Kids' crime is a real threat

While the country works its way out of ridiculous post-cup grief - not helped by Doug Howlett's 'Dancing on the Cars' therapy - and as police ratchet up their anti-terrorism campaign, the country ignores facts which could blight the future for generations to come.

Statistics: In New Zealand 14 to 16-year-olds commit about 45,500 crimes each year, with children too young to be prosecuted involved in more than 8500 in one year.

Justice Ministry statistics show police picked up 700 children under 10 and 7900 children 10 to 13 last year for crimes including violence, drugs and burglary.

All too often police are powerless to intervene.

They say there is little they can do in cases like a 10-year-old who attacked classmates with a piece of timber, two 12-year-olds with 33 burglary charges, and a 13-year-old who attacked police with a baseball bat.

Police usually rely on care and protection orders to deal with troubled children through the Family Court, but this can be difficult.

Many are from working two-parent families where Child, Youth and Family is unlikely to become involved.

Police believe kids are getting into crime younger and more violently.

Under 14 they can only be prosecuted for murder or manslaughter.

After that, when police can deal with them, they are already career crooks.

One Lower Hutt 13-year-old in social welfare care for sexual offences abused two-year-olds four more times while in care, with police unable to act.

NZ First MP Ron Mark has what he believes is one significant answer - a bill before a parliamentary select committee that would lower the age of prosecution from 14 to 12 and introduce tougher penalties for young, serious criminals.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor says police also want the Youth Court empowered to better deal with these young people quickly and more effectively.

From his vantage point on the bench principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft has said:

"The challenge is how to influence these people.

"How can we respond now? We know what works and what doesn't work. We know brat camps and scare tactics don't work."

He said the 7000 young people who come before the Youth Court each year face a real risk of staying in the court system.

He said 14 to 16-year-olds committed about 45,500 offences each year - about 20 percent of all offending.

Half of those youth offenders were Maori males, Judge Becroft told a policing conference.

He added the obvious, that the number of male Maori being dealt with in the Youth Court was a deep concern.

But Judge Becroft and Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro have both criticised Mr Mark's bill.

Police say they don?t want to criminalise young people but lowering the age of criminal responsibility will allow police to crack down and offer youngsters help they need - before they become hardened criminals.

A police spokesman says most children who are a problem are dealt with effectively by parents and schools.

But a small group of serious or recidivist offenders are slipping through the cracks.

Some crimes by young children are 'quite frightening', including taking knives to school and assaulting other children.

There has been a marked increased in reported youth incidents involving knives - some causing deaths.

Youth offending is reportedly 'overwhelmingly under-reported' because many police simply take the children home without documenting the incident.

But if young offenders are not dealt with, they will go on to further crime.

"The reality is 15 and 16-year-olds don't suddenly become violent," Mr O'Connor says.

Mr Mark is adamant his bill is vital.

He quotes Justice Ministry statistics as further proof the age of prosecution should be lowered.

"In four years they will be the graduates of the failing youth justice system and they will become the very adults that people are bleating about being in our jails."

So the statistics are terrible, Judge Becroft is worried, police are frustrated and Ron Mark believes his bill is one answer.

What's yours?

To contact Pat Booth email: offpat@snl.co.nz. All replies are open for publication unless marked Not For Publication.

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