Support for at-risk youth

BY ANTONIO BRADLEY

Vandalism, intimidation and petty theft could decline in central Upper Hutt as young support workers prepare to mix with at-risk youth on the street, police say.

Main St shopkeepers welcome the project, as they face "huge expense" from smashed windows and graffiti.

Four locals aged 19 to 24 will talk with loitering youth in the CBD area from Monday.

They will try to connect them to local support agencies such as Orongomai Marae social services.

Safer Valley Youth (SaVY) is a joint project between the police, regional public health and Upper Hutt City Council.

Council community project manager Jesse Boyce says SaVY addresses a strong call for help from college pupils.

Upper Hutt students asked for a safer CBD and support with alcohol, drugs and depression in a recent survey.

The Mall is providing office space to SaVY for six months for $1 on the corner of Main and Logan streets.

Manager Martin Threapleton says young vandals create a "huge expense" for shopkeepers in the CBD, and make Main St less attractive.

He hopes youth workers will be more successful than police or shopkeepers at deterring vandalism because they understand the youth better.

"I don't have too much time for [vandals]. They don't have respect for old people."

Police area commander Mike Hill says the youth workers will help police, who have tight resources.

"The police are quite good at responding to crime in a youth sense but we don't have the ability to spend a lot of time."

The Government will subsidise SaVY wages for six months.

- Upper Hutt Leader