14 August 2003
Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader
Robson calls for stronger early intervention push
There needs to be a much stronger push to intervene with young people before they start on a life of a crime,
Progressive MP Matt Robson said today.
He was commenting following the release of national crime figures showing total reported crime increased by 2.5 percent
in the last year against a population increase of 1.9%.
Matt Robson, who is a former Corrections Minister, says far longer sentences have failed to produce the dramatic
declines in crime rates that promoters promised and more needs to be done.
“The main reason that crime rates have virtually stabilised is that unemployment is down. If National, Act and NZ First
were in power, unemployment would be up and crime would be far worse.
“But there is much more needed to be done. Rather predictably, criminals aren’t being deterred by the threat of thirty
year prison terms.
“If we want safer communities, then we need to intervene strongly with kids before they start out on a life of crime.
Early intervention works best and costs less.
“An intervention with an angry and defiant five year old costs $5000 and has a 70 percent chance of success. The same
intervention at age twenty costs $20,000 and has a 20 percent chance of success.
“Programmes that strengthen family, school and education environments for children and teenagers at highest risk are the
best way to bring down crime rates,” Matt Robson said.
ENDS