Review of children in police custody announced

The treatment of children in police custody is to be reviewed. File photo / NZ Herald

The treatment of children in police custody is to be reviewed to make sure it meets standards set out under a United Nations framework.

The Human Rights Commission, The Office of the Children's Commissioner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) will work together in the first review of its kind in New Zealand.

The Joint Thematic Review of Children and Young Persons' Detention Issues (JTR) will review broad questions of policy, practice and procedure relating to those aged under 17, but will not focus on individual matters.

"Children and young persons are especially vulnerable by virtue of their age and, as such, reviewing the issues that arise for them in custody is an important initiative in fulfilling our preventive mandate under OPCAT (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture)," IPCA chairwoman Justice Lowell Goddard said.

OPCAT was ratified in New Zealand in 2007 and requires member nations to have a system of inspecting places of detention, including police cells and secure residences for children and young persons.

The IPCA inspections of custodial facilities had been well-received by police and the same support was expected for this review, Justice Goddard said.

- NZPA