PRESS STATEMENT

THE FAMILY PARTY
www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

29 Jan 2008

Youth Crime: Government is the problem – family is the solution

Richard Lewis, a former South Auckland police sergeant and leader of The Family Party, says eight years of social engineering under Labour has significantly shifted societal values and created a false sense of reality for young people. He says an increasing number of New Zealand children have no sense of responsibility or accountability and society is now paying the price.

“Random acts of mindless violence are inevitable outcomes amongst a generation that has never experienced meaningful consequence for bad behaviour. Today’s kids control parents in the home and teachers in the classroom. They control police on the streets and to a certain extent, judges in our courtrooms. They have all the rights and no responsibility. They certainly aren’t accountable. What’s more the media indulges them on a diet of violence and anti-social behaviour. Government created this environment but we’re all having to live with the consequences,” says Mr Lewis.

He says the solution ultimately rests with the family.

“I think we all accept that a child’s character is firstly shaped in the home. If kids can’t be held to account in the home amongst people they care about they certainly wont be accountable to a community of strangers. With that in mind, Government needs to change its attitudes towards families – not treating parents as mere economic units to pay for more Government bureaucracy, but recognising that parents are the primary shapers, providers and guiders of the next generation. Parents should be afforded that respect and supported accordingly,” he added.

Richard Lewis will stand for The Family Party in Manukau in the 2008 Election.

ENDS

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