Government Forcing Children To Crime

A disturbing number of children are embarking on the road to prison at a younger and younger age, ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman, said today.

"Figures released by Police, in response to Parliamentary Questions, show that 16 children under the age of 10 were arrested for car break-ins during 2001- 2002, the youngest was aged 8.

"It is shocking that young children who should be well-supervised by their parents are already committing significant crimes. Their parents must accept responsibility for what their children are doing. If they need help and support with difficult children, then they should ask for it and it should be given," Dr Newman said.

"The Police also need the resources and the mandate to take a zero tolerance approach to crime, so that children who are thinking of offending not only know that they have a very good chance of being caught, but that the consequences will not be pleasant.

"Its essential that we nip youth offending in the bud otherwise most of these kids will continue on the slippery slide to prison," Dr Newman said.

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