One of New Zealand's leading judges yesterday called for greater Government and public help in stopping serious child and youth crime, which he says is committed by only a small sample of young people who come to police attention.
The call was made by Judge Andrew Becroft, the Principal Judge of the Youth Court, delivering the Napier Pilot City Trust's Unity Week Robson Lecture to a spellbound audience of about 140 in the city's council chambers.
Judge Becroft said that rates of offending and apprehension among those aged under 17 were generally stable or decreasing, but with a major concern with increased serious violent offending, including that by girls.
He said those involved could be identified at a young age. "Not only do we know the names but we also know the characteristics," he said, listing backgrounds including children being born to young mums, without natural fathers on the scene, transient households and early use of alcohol and drugs.
The judge said the wider statistics of lesser offending and apprehensions indicated New Zealand's 23 years of innovative youth justice legislation was working.