Girl, 14, in cells drunk and alone

A 14-year-old girl who was so drunk she could barely stand spent nearly 10 hours in a police cell because police could not find her parents and no one else wanted to deal with her.

The teen was picked up in the Whangarei town centre in the early hours of yesterday after an officer noticed her staggering around.

Sergeant Graham Povey said it was not the first time the girl had been picked up by police for being drunk and on her own.

"She was extremely drunk and could hardly stand," he said. "She was brought into the station and was extremely obnoxious, nasty.

"We held her here for her own safe keeping - she would have been a prime target in town."

Mr Povey said police went to her home six to seven times throughout the night but no one was home. As they tried to find her parents, Mr Povey rang Child Youth and Family but "they didn't want to know her because she was so drunk".

CYF could not be reached for comment last night.

Officers on the early shift, which started at 7am, also tried visiting the girl's home several times but still could not find her parents.

The girl was kept in a cell at the station but Mr Povey said a security guard had to be called in to monitor her because she was so drunk.

Throughout her stay in the cells the girl swore and yelled abuse at the guard. "In the end I contacted CYF [again]," said Mr Povey.

He said CYF finally came to the station and collected the girl at 11am. They found some older siblings and left her in their care.

There is now concern the girl could end up in the same situation again.

"They shouldn't be drinking at that age and even if they are they should be kept an eye on but this girl was in town without any supervision."

It is not known where the girl had been drinking but Mr Povey said it was unlikely to be a case of confused retailers selling it to her on the basis that she looked of age.

"She looks like a little girl. There is any number of older people that will supply liquor to younger people, that's the problem we have."

Alcohol Advisory Council chief executive Dr Mike MacAvoy said it was a sad indictment on society when a 14-year-old girl was out drunk and alone in town.

"Where were her parents? I think this is a real question of care and responsibility of the parents."

Mr MacAvoy said there was no "legal drinking age" in New Zealand, only a purchase age of 18.

Raising that to 20 would not make a difference in cases like this as the girl was so young, he said.

"The blame if you like should be sheeted straight home to the parents ... what on earth are they doing allowing their 14-year-old to get into that situation? It's unfair on the police to have to get into that sort of mess.

"Why should they have to be putting up with that? It's not their role."

Police said it was too early to say whether they would pursue charges against the girl's parents.