Children under 14 caught doing ram raids will be given intensive support to steer them away from crime, towards study and work.
The move is part of a $53 million government package extending education and employment programmes to thousands more at-risk young people.
Education and Police Minister Chris Hipkins says the package is a response to a rise in youth crime - particularly in Auckland.
"The government is investing heavily in programmes that create opportunities for young people to break the cycle of crime.
"While youth crime is down on a decade ago, we're seeing a spike of young people, even children, putting themselves and others in harm's way through high-risk activities such as ram-raiding and smashing shops and we want that to stop.
"This package will help address complex and longer-term youth engagement issues that have been made more challenging by Covid-19. Frequent disruption has prevented some children and young people from accessing an education, while others are still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic on them and their families."
Punishing young people through the justice system usually set them up for a life of crime, and preventing youth crime was important to preventing gang membership, says Hipkins.
The 'Better Pathways' package was a second chance for those who deserved it, he says.
"Part of this package is designed to help keep young people out of the justice system where police and partner agencies believe this approach is warranted.
"But I want to be clear, young offenders committing serious crimes will continue to be dealt with seriously. This is about a second chance for those that merit it; it's not a free pass," Hipkins says.
What the package includes
- Children in Counties Manukau caught in ram raids are already being referred to the Social Wellbeing Board - a cross agency team including police and social workers - and that's now being extended to West Auckland.
- Youth Guarantee Programme which allows some 16-19-year-olds to participate in some courses free of charge extended to support up to 1100 more participants
- He Poutama Rangatahi youth employment scheme extended to support around 1400 more rangatahi
- Ākonga Fund extended to the end of 2023 to support up to 2750 additional young people and their whānau
- 232 families with children set to benefit from the scaling up of the family functional therapy, intensive mentoring and community-led youth inclusion programmes
8 comments
Bollocks
Posted on 06-09-2022 09:06 | By First Responder
Just another soft approach by this useless Government. Remember Jacindas approach to gangs; Get the Aunties in. And what's the result? More gang members than Police. Read the herald this morning? 16 year given 9 months home detention for the rape of 4 girls. No wonder this country has entered of vortex of crime and criminals. The bloody government is feeding it.
Justice system haha
Posted on 06-09-2022 10:21 | By The Professor
What justice system? The one we have is a complete joke. The justice system needs to be made tougher. Lock youths up (which in itself removes them from their family which is where they often learn the trade of crime) and educate them under lock and key. Detention centers and prisons need to be much much harsher without any home comforts. No, tv, no visitors, no smokes, same meal every single day and play one annoying piece of music constantly...day and night. This MAY encourage some not to re-offend!!
This is SO futile.
Posted on 06-09-2022 12:27 | By morepork
Just spend money on it and it will go away. No, it won't. Diverting criminal kids to better programs is a good move but it is completely pointless unless the parents are also involved, and reparations are made BY THE PERPETRATORS, to the victims. Those reparations may involve working for the affected business and/or cash payments, where fines are given as reparation, rather than being taken into State funding. Until the family recognize that criminal activity will be stomped on and they are forced as a unit, to take responsibility for what was done, there will be no change. The kids believe they are "untouchable" and the parents are doing nothing to disabuse them of this belief. It has to change, and patting them on the head and giving them a new program, in and of itself, will not bring about that change.
@The Professor
Posted on 06-09-2022 12:36 | By morepork
While I share your disgust for the weakness of the current system (and it has to be overhauled), the measures you suggest would not fix the problem. (You'd end up with kids who are severely mentally disturbed as well as being criminal...) What the Americans call "Cruel and unusual punishment" is not going to solve this. Minds need to be changed, as well as penalties hardened. It needs a multi-pronged approach which involves the whole family unit (if there is one...) and children becoming wards of state if there isn't. It might also be possible to get extended family as guardians, with responsibility for behavior, and support from the right services. These kids need to know that actions have consequences.
@First Responder
Posted on 06-09-2022 12:43 | By morepork
I don't get the Herald so I didn't see what you reported. I was shocked. Can't draw a conclusion without all the facts, but this is unacceptable. I think it is pretty apparent that this government's approach to Law and Order is not meeting the approval of the community at large, and most people are sick and tired of reading offences like the one you described, being given trivial penalties. There needs to be clear and concerted war on crime with proper support for Law enforcement and multi-pronged approaches to dealing with problem families and their problem kids.
Creative Accounting.
Posted on 06-09-2022 13:04 | By Justin T.
"While youth crime is down on a decade ago," My goodness this government has a diploma in Spin. They just haven't been able to catch the kiddie-winkies to get a realistic view of the numbers. And if you can't charge them because they're too young you can't add the number to the tally.
Hmmm
Posted on 06-09-2022 13:11 | By Let's get real
Only since the current government has been in the position to make and change laws, have we heard that prison doesn't work so let's stop sending offenders there... Anyone who has been to countries that don't want repeat offenders, such as most of Asia, the Arab world and most of the African and South African countries (so most of the world) make entering prison so hideous and uncomfortable that people hear about the experiences and don't want to break the law. Prison doesn't work because it isn't a punishment but only time away from your family with heated cells, tv, three meals a day and privileges on top of this comfort for being a good boy or girl.
What a crock
Posted on 06-09-2022 13:24 | By The Sage
Lots of more feel good words from the Government, with no teeth. How about the teenager who raped 4 girls and sexually violated another being given home detention for 9 months. Is he going to be wrapped in love by the new Wellness Committee? While this is happening what support is being provided to the victims and their families who are suffering long lasting after effects. How about sorting out the Judiciary? What about the youth doing the ram raids, are they going to get support from this wellness committee? I have never heard so much rubbish from this Government. They go from the stupidity of changing KiwiSaver to this next throw away of money.
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