Anne Tolley MP
National Party Associate Welfare Spokeswoman (CYF)

12 November 2006

Minister should explain latest CYF failure

Ruth Dyson should explain why a 10-year-old boy who embarked on a violent crime spree was not in foster care, says National’s Associate Welfare spokeswoman (CYF), Anne Tolley.

She is commenting following reports that a 10-year-old boy has been locked up in a youth remand centre for more than a year after bashing other kids with bicycle chains, robbing people with a knife and shooting a girl.

It is reported that he was catapulted into a young life of crime by family members who rewarded him with cannabis from the age of six when he helped them commit burglaries. At 10 years old he has 46 offences to his name.

“This is a graphic illustration of what can happen when the system doesn’t step in,”says Mrs Tolley.

“He would have been better off in foster care than in the care of a family that would have him take part in burglaries and other crimes. Child, Youth and Family have removed children from their families for far less than this.

“Someone needed to take responsibility for this boy. His family didn’t, so CYF should have. They have failed this child. There has been a clear failure in the system and the Minister needs to explain why.”

ENDS

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