Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

18 April 2007

Labour lets down youth – again

The Labour Government has let down the youth of New Zealand by allowing proposals for changing the way youth offenders are sentenced, to languish for five years, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

“A discussion paper seeking views on sentencing options for young offenders, under the Children, Youth Persons and Their Families Act 1989, is welcome but should have been done years ago.”

Mr Power is releasing papers obtained under the Official Information Act which show once again that the Government has neglected youth justice.

“This issue goes back to 2002 when the Youth Offending Strategy proposed, among other things, extending the length of Supervision with Residence Orders.

“In 2003, Cabinet sought a comprehensive review of sentencing options, including lengthening residential orders, as well as advice on whether changes could be made to the CYF Amendment Bill No 4 in the meantime, but nothing happened.

“In December 2003, the Ministry of Social Development argued that longer residential orders couldn't be considered as part of the CYF amendment Bill because CYF was ’poorly placed … for reasons of capability and … residential capacity’, to implement them for a further three years.

“That might make sense if the CYF Amendment Bill was passed in 2004, as originally intended, but three years later it's still awaiting its second reading in the House.

“As for the comprehensive review of sentencing options, in 2004 the Minister agreed that it be completed by 30 June 2005, which was then extended to December due to resource constraints.

“When it did emerge in February 2006, the report said ‘further detailed policy work and wider consultation on criteria and implementation (and other issues) will be undertaken to inform a proposed November 2006 Cabinet paper’.

“Finally, in April 2007 we have some action – but it is still just a discussion paper.

“By dithering, this Government has let down the youth of this country by not supplying the courts with the tools they need to get on top of the burgeoning youth crime problem.

“If the Government had moved when they intended to, we might be seeing some real action right now. Who knows how far away that might be.

“As it is, violence among youth has increased 43% since 1999.

“Let’s not forget Helen Clark’s election pledge in 1999 that she would ‘crack down on youth crime’. The lack of action on sentencing means she has done virtually nothing to honour that pledge.”

ENDS

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