KEY POINTS:
Police are facing increasing violence from teenagers who have no respect for officers and don't fear the consequences, says the Police Association.
In the past 10 days, police have been on the receiving end of violence and intimidating behaviour from young people in both Christchurch and Levin.
Police and ambulance workers who arrived at the scene of an out-of-control party at which Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young died in an alleged hit-and-run in Christchurch last week were pelted by bottles and rocks.
Officers had to don riot gear before moving in to close the party and disperse the 500-strong crowd.
They described the scene as being "like a war zone".
In Levin last weekend, police say outnumbered officers were punched, scratched, spat at, and had their patrol car window smashed after they arrested four teenagers for shoplifting.
One boy repeatedly punched the officer who was arresting him in the head, while another who had been put inside the patrol car kicked and smashed its window.
"The police were then abused by a larger group of juveniles who had gathered as onlookers from the nearby skate park," Sergeant Sarn Paroli said.
The verbal abuse went up a notch as bottles and rubbish were hurled at the officers by dozens of teenagers.
The officers were "drastically outnumbered" and feared for their safety, Mr Paroli said.
The behaviour of the worst offenders was "extremely aggressive and not normal for young people".
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said today more teenagers were willing to abuse police because they didn't fear the consequences.
He believes media scrutiny of the police over the past few years is partly to blame.
"Police have been under pretty constant attack through the media over the last two or three years and you've got people growing up seeing that," he told Radio New Zealand.
"It's hardly surprising that they're joining in the chorus in the only time they come into contact with the police which tends to be on the street."
Greater protective custody and more secure beds were needed for youths who continued to offend, he said.
Tauranga police have also had recent problems with out-of-control parties.
Area commander Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said the while teenage parties had stretched police resources in the past, the use of text messaging and internet sites meant police were facing bigger crowds.
This had put the spotlight on parental responsibility, he told Radio New Zealand.
"There seems to be a lack of understanding from parents as to how these parties can get out of control so easily.
"They need to follow some very simple rules about keeping the numbers small and as closely associated (with the family) as possible."
Rotorua area commander Inspector Bruce Horn said in the worst cases parents encouraged the bad behaviour of their children.
"Just by being naive or downright stupid, such as parents who allow, or even encourage, their children to drink to excess and then they wonder why things get out of control," he said.
- NZPA
