June 27, 2024
Ram raid answers already in community
More than 30 organisations working with young people have called for the Government to scrap the Ram Raid Bill.
The groups presented a petition to parliament yesterday.
The bill initially proposed under the previous Labour government will add a new offence for ram raiding to the Crimes Act, with a sentence of up to 10 years.
Police will be given the power to prosecute children as young as 12.
Kelly Teariki-Peterson from Mana Inc, who works with ram raiders and families, says there is a massive amount of evidence to show the long-lasting effect such a punitive approach will have on 12 and 13 year olds.
“There has to be a better way for the justice system, backed by the evidence, to wrap around, have a real village approach, and listen to lots of community organisations that are already working with these tamariki and working with these whanau and look at what solutions are already working and how do we replicate and grow that for meaningful impact and change,” she says.
Ms Teariki-Petersen says the young ram raiders will end up as parents, and it’s important their experiences now don’t have a negative impact on their children.