Boot camp to be trialled this year

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New Zealand will see its first trial of a military-style boot camp to tackle the worst young offenders by the end of the year, says Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett.

Bennett was in Christchurch yesterday to visit Burnham Military Camp where six-week Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) courses are run for unemployed 18 to 25-year-olds the chance to improve confidence and employment opportunities.

She drew some parallels between Burnham's LSVs and National's election promise of military-style "boot camps".

She said there would a trial camp this year and hoped for the opening of a permanent camp by April 1 next year.

The Youth Justice Bill, which will provide the legal framework for the camps, is before a select committee.

Bennett hit out at criticism of the proposed camps: "The reality is this is going to be for 40 kids. They will be nothing like old-time boot camps."

The National Party wants to combine military-style discipline, drug and alcohol rehabilitation with mentoring and education. Major Cate Linton, of Burnham, said the LSV programme was nothing like a boot camp because young people chose to participate.

- © Fairfax NZ News