www.republicans.org.nz

10th May 2007

Young Offenders Bill

Republicans Law and Order spokesman Bevan Berg says he has serious concerns about New Zealand First MP Ron Mark's Young Offenders Bill which is currently before a select committee.

If we are about to start criminalising our 10 - 14 year old children, then we really are admitting a level of social failure that not only deserves ridicule, but requires us as adults to give serious consideration to how we raise our children.

Throwing children at such a vulnerable age into the criminal justice system and into institutions will build a criminal fraternity which will haunt the next generation.

What we are seeing is the consequences of the undermining of family and the undermining of acceptable levels of discipline in society.

We have thousands of children not turning up to school each day, says Mr Berg. What do we expect, that they will behave as we would expect, when they have been allowed to ignore the authority of parents and teachers, and please themselves what they will do with their time.

This bill like the section 59 compromise assumes that "State will fix all, but it won't", says Mr Berg. What I see happening is that we will have even younger offenders.

The Republicans are well aware that the family is the centre piece of society, not an overbearing state, and our policies will ensure that our families are supported, and that our children are gainfully occupied and not allowed to drift into a lifetime of crime.

ENDS

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