Letter to the Editor Tuesday January 7, 2014

Back on the street

It seems to me that judges and JPs are abusing the work of our police and the protection of the general public.

'Teenager charged with robbery' (December 31) referred to a teenager being charged with aggravated robbery at a Kaitaia service station.

This gangster held and pointed a rifle while robbing innocent people, and is out on bail? This is so unbelievable.

A robber is a robber, teenager or not. An armed robber is dangerous, teenager or not. Those that are robbed are traumatised. Those that are robbed at gunpoint are faced with possible death.

JsP and judges hold our lives in their hands when making rulings on those who misuse their freedom among citizens. This JP let this gun-wielding thug out on the same streets where he and his accomplices committed the horrendous crime.

This neglect leaves open the opportunity for these criminals to commit yet another crime, or perhaps even devastating injury or death to anyone in their way. This abandonment of ensuring my and other's safety in Kaitaia is frightening.

The rifle and items stolen through force, along with the statement made by this felon (that he and his friends had run out of alcohol so decided to rob the service station) supports the apparent menace of this person, so he should not be walking among us. He should have been detained in custody, as aggravated robbery is not a minor offence.

Those who hold the power of law within the Kaitaia District Court should be helping those in the community who have called to stop what is going on in our area, not hinder them.

Imagine Kaitaia showing the way to the rest of New Zealand of being virtually crime-free by using the jurisdiction within the courts instead of the lacklustre showing we have now. A naughty child can be a well-behaved youth under the authority of a caring mother. We need our local District Court to begin acting as the caring mother.

KERRIE

Kaitaia