During 2015, the Merida Municipal Police recorded only 178 arrests of juvenile offenders, a figure that ranks Merida as one of the cities with the lowest crime rate among young people.
The police agency reported that 85% of the arrests were due to civil disturbances, however, Merida continues below the national average crime rate among youths under 18 years.
According to the statistical study of juvenile offenders made nationally by the Ministry of Public Safety, the cities of Cancun, Mexico City and Sonora are the points where the most minors are involved in crimes.
Juvenile crime in Merida mainly involves arrests for disturbances, drug use and robbery. (PHOTO: borderlandbeat.com)
Nationally there are 14 states where are concentrated the highest statistics of juvenile crime, even posting incidents in which children under age nine are involved in illegal activities.
Main reasons for arrest in Merida
In the case of Mérida, it is adolescents between 14 and 18 years old, where there were 152 teenagers who committed offenses because of disturbances.
The second most common reason for detention were minors who were drugged in public thoroughfares, and in this segment there were 12 detainees.
Crimes in which it was necessary to open a preliminary inquiry (AP) from the courts, are robberies of shops and passers-by, with the participation of six teenagers.
However, in these latter cases were reported only those who were part of a complaint. The Municipal Police said that there may be other cases where victims do not report the crime and therefore cannot be registered.
Most cases were identified in the southern part of the city, so the Municipal Police surveillance at various points in these neighborhoods has been increased.
Source: sipse.com
