Girls behaving badly keep police busy

An increase in drunken disorder, assaults and aggravated robberies by teenage girls is concerning Hamilton police who are urging parents to take control of their wayward daughters.

In the latest incident, three girls, two aged 15, allegedly threatened a taxi driver with a weapon and demanded cash in an early morning hold-up. The girls, who appeared in Hamilton's Youth and District Courts yesterday, then allegedly punch the man before fleeing with $10 in coins.

The attack followed another violent incident on Tuesday night when an 18-year-old girl was beaten up by two girls for her wallet as she sat outside Burger King on Ward St in central Hamilton. Two girls, 15 and 17, were arrested shortly afterwards.

Hamilton City area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay said police had made several arrests of highly intoxicated girls, who were involved in fights and other disorder, over the Easter break.

While offenders were more often boys, Mr Lindsay said girls appeared more callous and often stalked and harassed their victims before striking.

The weekend before several girls were involved in a large-scale brawl at the Balloons Over Waikato Night Glow, a family event, while a further three girls were arrested for assaulting and robbing another girl on a city bridge. Passing motorists went to her aid.

Sergeant Scott Miller, in charge of youth aid, said young female offenders tended to harbour grudges and could be "quite sinister" with the violence they meted out.

Mr Miller said parents and caregivers should be taking account of young people in their care.

"You'd have to ask what are 15-year-old girls doing out in taxis at 1.30 in the morning," he said. "There are a lot of breakdowns and perhaps some families aren't pulling their weight."

Te Ahurei a Rangatahi manager and Hamilton youth worker Eugene Davis said some girls tried to enhance their profile or identity with their male peers by drinking more and using violence to earn respect.

"The stories are coming out that it is actually a common thing."