The 111 Files: Team passionate about youth work

Keeping youngsters out of trouble with the law has its rewards.

One of my roles at the Rotorua police station is oversight of the Police Youth Services Team.

I am always impressed by the passion and commitment our youth team has for the young people and families they work with.

For a young person, life should be all about having fun, enjoying friendships, learning new things and growing into an adult who makes a valuable contribution to the community.

Unfortunately, some children never get this opportunity due to inadequate parental support and an absence of good role models.

Most of the young people who come to police attention come from troubled homes.

As a result, the work of our youth staff is not without its challenges; and sometimes disappointments. However, I am always impressed by the level of dedication, care, affection and support they provide for young people they interact with - all attributes that can change lives.

For example, I was recently discussing a case with one of my staff involving a 12-year-old boy who was being raised by his extended family.

Although his caregivers were very committed to providing him with the best possible care, troubling events from earlier in his life were surfacing and he was engaging in destructive behaviours, which led to his family seeking police help.

As I listened to my staff member outline how she had worked to find an effective solution, I was really impressed by the effort she had put into problem-solving the case and her innovative approach to finding the solution.

But it didn't end there.

She continued to monitor the case and adapt the intervention to match the boy's progress and meet his developmental needs.

As a result, this young boy has stopped offending and his overall behaviour has changed for the better.

However, given the pattern of behaviour that was emerging before police became involved, it is almost certain that without some form of intervention he would have become a career criminal.

This is one of the most rewarding aspects of youth work - when an investment of time at an early stage can change the course of a life.

There is an old saying that it takes a community to raise a child. Although there are a lot of agencies working with young people in our community, all of them are looking for additional help.

I have learned that a relatively small investment of time can make a huge difference to a young person's life.

If you are interested in getting involved in life-changing voluntary work with our youth, give me a call. I'd love to hear from you.

- Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes is the officer in charge of community services at Rotorua police.