Juveniles need ‘proper care’

Press, 13 May 1986, Page 1

Juveniles need ‘proper care’

The “take them home” method of dealing with juvenile criminals had mixed effectiveness, said the head of the Christchurch police district, Deputy Assistant Commissioner J. A. Jamieson, yesterday. The police had to deal with boy burglars as young as 10 in Christ-

church at the week-end. Two of them are in the custody of the Social Welfare Department after having been caught committing a burglary, returned to their homes by the police, then caught committing more offences three hours later.

The police will take court action against the

legal guardians of the boys, alleging that they are not being kept under proper care and control. The boys, aged 11 and 13, were caught after breaking into St Albans School about 4 p.m. and stealing cash. Under new legislation, persons under the age of 14 cannot be charged with any offence. All the police can do is drive the young offenders back to their homes. About three hours later the same boys were again apprehended for breaking into vehicles at the Municipal Electricity Department yard in Packe Street, St Albans. A boy, aged 10, was caught also after breaking into a Cashmere house and stealing money. “Taking them home has mixed effectiveness. Very often it works, unless the parents have already lost control,” he said. “We have one recourse in that we can take them under an emergency warrant to a welfare home.”

“Even if they could be charged in court, there is no guarantee that that would stop them from offending. The only solution is to have them under proper State care,” Mr Jamieson said.