Simon Waters
IS BEING referred to police Youth Aid a slap with a wet bus ticket?
Not necessarily.
This week's story of seven youths aged 11-16 crashing a stolen car on Carlton Ave has drawn its share of comments from people who say referring young offenders to Youth Aid is a soft option.
The Chronicle's Facebook page is a case in point.
"Stupid kids. And all they will get is a slap on the wrist and sent on there [sic] way," wrote one poster.
We're not excusing criminal offending. But we were all kids once. Not everyone who makes a stupid mistake grows up to be a serial offender.
I stole a tomato when I was about 5. My father had the foresight and connections to take me to the police station where I received a stern talking to from a big man in a blue uniform. He also showed me the cells. It left a big impression.
Police say many youths who commit offences are dealt with through referral to Youth Aid as an alternative to formal court proceedings.
This is to be applauded. Nobody deserves a criminal record before they've hit puberty.
Measures can include a home visit from a police Youth Aid officer, written or face-to-face apologies, reparation and projects. Agreements on education may be developed, and curfews can be agreed with parents.
This may seem like a slap with a wet bus ticket but it is arguably more productive than criminalising children.
Of course, Youth Court remains an option for the real bad eggs. Repeat and serious offending is likely to be dealt with far more harshly.
But everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt at least once in their lives.
Youth Aid works.
Even just one kiwi death can have a devastating impact on kiwi recovery, Helen Leahy said.