Abstract
This is part of a broad research that sought to find out the perceptions of street children on law enforcement
agents. This study sought to identify the mechanisms that could be put in place in order to improve the
relationships between law enforcement agents and street children. There seems to be a gap in knowledge as to
why these children have taken the streets as their home. The street children are also ignorant of the reasons
behind some of the activities of law enforcement agencies. The study used qualitative methodology. A
descriptive survey research design was used in the study. The research used interviews and observation check
lists as instruments to collect data. The sample composed of ten street children selected by use purposive
sampling in the streets of Harare. The study found out that law enforcement agencies treated street children
inhumanly; they confiscated their wares and demanded money in order to release the arrested street children.
The study showed that the law enforcement agencies took street children to be criminals and did not
understand why these children were living in the streets. The study recommends that law enforcement agencies
be trained on ways of handling street children. There is also need for the street children to desist from
engaging in illegal activities. The street children should be taught legal ways of getting money while these
children were living in the streets. The study recommends that law enforcement agencies be trained on ways of
handling street children. There is also need for the street children to desist from engaging in illegal activities
such as stealing, consuming alcohol in public places and shoplifting. The street children should be taught
legal ways of getting money and solving challenges they faced while living in the streets
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Kudenga Mugove
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Zimbabwe Open University.
Received: 22-05-2017, Accepted: 04-06-2017, Published Online: 15-06-2017