26 April 2002

Green MP Nandor Tanczos backed the Government's Youth Crime Strategy launched today, saying it was time for a more integrated approach.

The Party's Youth and Justice spokesperson said he hoped that problems with family group conferencing were going to be sorted out.

"New Zealand led the world with family group conferencing, but it has lost some credibility because of a lack of follow-up and a lack of resourcing.

"With better funding and training, I'm hoping that these problems will be dealt to."

Nandor said he also supported moves to get agencies to work together better, and in particular the focus on new programmes for high-risk serious young offenders.

"I am told that we can identify potentially serious offenders at a very young age. If we know who's most at risk, it's a mystery to me why we don't stop this process happening.

"Early intervention has got to be a high priority."

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