After-school porn and pot for 10-year-olds

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

Four Bay of Plenty 10-year-olds have admitted watching pornographic videos and smoking cannabis while home alone after school.

The case has disturbed authorities, who say it should be a wake-up call to all parents.

Commissioner for Children Roger McClay has suggested introducing a criminal charge of reckless parenting for people who leave children unsupervised and exposed to the temptation of adult material.

"You can get done for reckless driving and children are worth more than a motor car," he said yesterday.

The extra-curricular activities at Papamoa, near Tauranga, came to light when the mother of the only boy in the group found the remains of a cannabis joint in his schoolbag last week.

"I wouldn't have known about it if she hadn't fronted up to me," said Papamoa Primary School principal Kelvin Barnett.

When he spoke to the four children individually they admitted smoking dope and watching blue movies they found in the home of one of the girls.

Mr Barnett said he did not know how often it happened, although the girls had regularly been at the house unsupervised after school. The boy had been there a couple of times. Allegations that they had been selling cannabis to schoolmates were unsubstantiated.

The principal said he passed the matter to the police, Child, Youth and Family Services and the parents of the four involved.

Police searched the house and charged a woman with cannabis possession. The children were referred to the Youth Aid section.

Mr Barnett said "latch-key kids" were not a new problem and he did not know how many pupils were left to their own devices after school.

Sergeant Nga Utanga, who heads youth services for the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty police districts, said the Papamoa case was "pretty extreme. It's not something we come across every day."

Although it was illegal to leave under-14-year-olds unsupervised, "there are the practicalities of life as well", he said.

It came down to common sense. If parents were not home they should at least be careful not to leave things like adult videos, Penthouse magazines, alcohol and cigarettes within reach of children.

Sergeant John Hicks of Mt Maunganui said parents should be vigilant.

"There are a lot of things going on out there that you never hear about. Hey, Mum and Dad, it is happening. Kids have got inquisitive minds."