Police Making Efforts To Prevent Juvenile Delinquency

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29262, 21 July 1960, Page 18

Police Making Efforts To Prevent Juvenile Delinquency

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. July 20. “A determined effort is being made to taekle juvenile delinquency at its source,’* said the annual, report on the New Zealand police, tabled In the House of Representatives. The report said there were now special juvenile crime prevention sections in 18 centres. During the year the sections handled 5947 cases, involving 4184 children. “The work of the sections is directed toward saving, children from falling into error and to guiding offenders back along correct moral and social lines,'* says the report. “Activities are carried on in close association with assistance from the Child Welfare Division, headmasters, vocational guidance officers, ministers ot religion, social welfare workers' and other organisations ' and people in the community interested in the welfare of children. In addition, the co-operation of parents and guardians is invariably sought.

“Officers of the sections are readily available to /children, parents, and others in need of assistance and they carry out patrols of streets, parks, reserves, dance halls, and other places frequented by juveniles.” “Children who have committed offences of only a minor nature and who have no previous record of offending are not sent to the Children’s Court when there is a reasonable assurance that they

can be guided away from further transgression by less stringent means.

“During the year, 1381 children were thus saved from Court appearances, and of these 842 were issued with police warnings and the remaining 438 were placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Division. Another 674 who committeed offences but not of a nature calling for Court appearances -were similarly dealt with, 270 being given police warnings and 404 being placed under supervision. “Urosecutions were taken against 1638 children; and another 444 were dealt with merely on an ‘advice’ basis. The 5338 offences by juveniles included 1845 of theft and receiving, 564 of breaking and entering, 138 of a sexual nature, 345 of vehicle conversion, and 63 involving liquor.