5. RON MARK (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
Does he stand by the Prime Minister’s statement on 11 August 2005 that the Labour Government had “pledged to focus on youth crime.”?
Hon MARK BURTONIs he satisfied that since 2002 the number of cases heard in the Youth Court has increased by a massive 70 percent and the number of offenders has increased by almost one-third, and what does he think these increases say about the pledge to focus on youth crime?
The member will be pleased to know that over the last 5 years youth apprehensions have, in fact, decreased by 5.1 percent, and that when adjusted for the increase in population size, the number is actually, overall, the lowest recorded since 1995.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I know that you heard that question clearly, and the Minister spoke of apprehensions. My question specifically was about Youth Court appearances increasing by 70 percent—figures that I got from his own department.
Speaking to the point of order, can I say the member is quite correct, but his principal question related to the overall youth-offending issue, which is what the Prime Minister had referred to. I gave him the fuller information, which I assumed he would be pleased to receive.
Madam SPEAKERI know he addressed the principal question when I asked the principal question. My supplementary question was very specific, I suggest to you, Madam Speaker. Therefore, he should have focused on the Youth Court, which my supplementary question asked about.
Lynne PillayCan the Minister give an example of a practical intervention that is making a difference in responding to youth crime?
Many projects are funded through Government agencies, often in conjunction with non-governmental organisations and community-based agencies. A good example is Tamaki Pathways, a Glen Innes - based youth project dealing with at-risk youth. It provides an alternative action path for young offenders, and is aimed at reducing the risk of offending and a range of other problematic behaviour. The project has been evaluated—I think that is a very important factor—and it has been showing very good impacts on offending behaviour and other social outcomes.
Chester BorrowsDoes the Minister agree with Judge Becroft’s statements that youth crime is caused by disengagement from family and education, and by dependence on drugs and alcohol; and how do the failure of the Reducing Youth Offending Programme, the closure of alcohol and drug clinics, and the lack of a truancy register while 45,000 kids wag school each week stop youth offending?
I certainly agree with Judge Becroft that those factors are considerable contributors—and I assume he did say the remarks that the member has attributed to him. Certainly, early intervention schemes such as the ENROL scheme, the Te Hurihanga programme, which is about to get under way in Hamilton, the 32 youth-offending teams, which have been working since 2003, and the good example of the Horowhenua Life to the Max programme are all good examples of the sort of activity that this Government has resourced to support young people and to bring down rates of youth offending.
Judy TurnerDoes the Minister agree with the social policy unit of the Salvation Army, which, although agreeing that young people should be held accountable for their offending, suggests that better resourcing for youth justice should be focused on ensuring that family group conferences are undertaken in a timely way, providing treatment programmes for drug and alcohol problems, and conducting psychological, psychiatric, and educational assessments, rather than harsher sentencing; if he does agree, what Government priorities are being set in those directions?
I think the general thrust of that assertion is entirely correct. If the member would like to put a specific question to the appropriate Minister, I am sure she would get considerable detail on the wide range of initiatives undertaken through the Ministry of Social Development, Child, Youth and Family, and a number of other Government agencies that are advancing the very matters she is talking about.
Does the Minister agree that the fact that 40 percent of those appearing in the Youth Court last year were repeat offenders, and the fact that an astounding 39 youths were last year making their ninth or more appearance, compared with only one in 2002, are clear evidence that the youth justice system is failing to deal effectively with serious, recidivist youth offenders?
Firstly, I have to say I cannot agree that the youth justice system is failing to deal with young people. As I have indicated to the member, the actual overall offending rate is tracking down. But I do agree with the member that there is a critical issue around repeat offending. That is why the focus is on early intervention. Indeed, some of the areas that the previous questioner raised are critically important, and that is why they do represent a major focus of this Government’s investments.
Does the Minister treat with the same degree of scepticism that New Zealand First does the advice from the plethora of youth-offending apologists and denialists that youth crime and recidivism rates are not increasing, when this information, fresh out of his own office, clearly shows that they are?
Although I do not doubt for a moment that the information the member held up came from my office if he said he did, I do not know which information he is referring to. As I have said to the member, the overall statistical fact is that youth-offending rates are trending downwards.
I seek the leave of the House to table answers to written questions lodged with the Minister of Justice.