Abstract
This is part of a broad study that sought to investigate the perceptions of street of street children on activities
of law enforcement agencies in Zimbabwe. The law enforcement agencies are mandated by the country’s
constitution to enforce the laws of the country. This study investigated the perceptions of street children on
the behaviour of law enforcement agents. The main research objective was to identify the perceptions of
street children on law enforcement agencies. The study used qualitative methodology. A descriptive survey
research design was used in the study. The research used interviews and observations as instruments to
collect data. The sample composed of ten street children selected by use purposive sampling in the streets of
Harare. The study revealed that law enforcement agents were very cruel, heartless and corrupt towards
street children though there are a few street children who thought that law enforcement agents are
sometimes helpful to street children. The research found out that the law enforcement agencies
indiscriminately rounded up street children, treated them inhumanly at police station and solicited for money
for release. The researcher recommended that law enforcement agents be offered training on how to handle
children living on the streets. The Government should put in place programmes which look at and promote
the welfare of children living in the streets. The researcher also recommended that any violation of the rights
of children living in the streets be brought to book and perpetrators prosecuted. The law enforcement agents
were urged to continue with the positive work of referring street children for rehabilitation.
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Kudenga Mugove
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Zimbabwe Open University.
Received: 07-05-2017, Accepted: 17-06-2017, Published Online: 25-06-2017