AN officer of the Guyana Police Force was on Monday taken into custody by his colleagues, after an allegation of rape was made against him by a 13-year-old female who is said to be part of his family.

Under the Sexual Offences Act, we are unable to disclose the names of the suspect and victim in the interest of the latter. However, based on information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the mother of the child left her in the care of the policeman and went out with some friends.

It is unclear how many times in the past the child was left in the care of the officer. However, what we were told is that on this occasion, during the absence of the child’s mother and the fact that the officer and the 13 year old were at home alone, he made sexual advances to her.

This publication could not say what form the sexual advances took, but based on our information, a report was lodged with the police and statements were taken regarding the matter. The accused policeman was then contacted and the allegation was put to him and he was subsequently arrested.

Contacted on Monday afternoon, Director of Child Care Services, Ann Greene, told this publication that her agency was informed of the matter and it is under investigation. At the 2018 staff conference of that agency, the department said that children are abused every hour.