No accountability for young offenders

For years both NZ First and National have been calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be lowered. Labour has been refusing.

Yesterday however the debate turned. No less than the Chief Family Court Judge has said young offenders are not being held accountable for their crimes:

“Twelve-year-olds, many of whom are committing quite heavy crimes, need to be more accountable than the present system is able to make them,” he said.

“What concerns me about the present situation is that for every 12-year-old criminal there is a victim. It’s the victim I am more concerned about.”

This is a stunning statement to be made by the head of the youth judiciary.

Hopefully the Government will now take action.