Stopping crime in its tracks
The extension of the Project Early programme, which helps troubled children to stay out of trouble, is an excellent
step towards a full early intervention program says Matt Robson MP.
"The Progressives welcome the extension of Project Early from Christchurch to Auckland, with a funding increase of
$600,000, as another step towards our cornerstone commitment to early intervention.
"Today I was present at the inauguration of a prison manager at the new Northland prison in Ngawha. While the prison is
necessary to ensure the safety of our communities, the best way to keep our communities safe is to fully fund early
intervention and stop crime in its tracks.
"Support for programmes such as Project Early eventually reduces the need to build new prisons and even better, early
intervention programmes will lead to fewer victims of crime.
"There is now a recognition that the violent adult and teenage offender was once a troubled child for whom there were
insufficient resources and not enough coordinated attention. Early intervention means we sort out the problem those
children experience well before they lead to criminal activity, that is why early intervention is a cornerstone
commitment for the Progressives," Matt Robson MP said.