The case of a group of youths crashing into cows while fleeing police in a stolen car just days after being bailed for trying to smash their way into a service station proves the youth justice system isn't working, Northland MP Winston Peters says.
Four of the five youths arrestedlast Thursday after the car chase near Ohaeawai had just been bailed for wilful damage. They were among seven youths charged so far in relation to a March 17 rampage through Kaikohe which included an attempt to break in to the iwi-owned Mobil service station.
Mr Peters said it confirmed his view that youth justice was a kind of "tag and release", because young offenders caught by police were released back in to the community and allowed to continue offending.
"Straight out of the most high-profile incident of recent times, these youths jump in to a car and cause the death of three cows ... and Parliament wants to raise the age of criminal responsibility? I urge then to get out of their ivory towers and into the real world," he said.
Those who wanted the youth justice system extended to include 17-year-olds had hundreds of reasons why their offending was someone else's fault.
"But these kids know it's wrong and they know they won't face any consequences. We are letting these out-of-control malcontents get away with anything whatsoever," Mr Peters said.
