Ankle bracelets for teen ram raiders?

Stuff reports:

The ACT Party wants to put ankle bracelets on “hardened” youth offenders who do ramraids so they can be electronically monitored.

The Government on Tuesday announced more “wraparound support” would be provided for children caught committing crimes, as ramraids on shops continue to make headlines.

This will be as successful as all the other Government policies in this area!

ACT Party leader David Seymour said the Government’s plan simply extended existing programmes, and lacked a single consequence for youth offenders committing the crime.

“Some people will say 11 to 14 is too young to wear an ankle bracelet. Do those same people say it’s too young to carry out a ramraid?,” he said in a statement.

Consequences are important, especially for young people. As a parent I spend much more time than I every thought I would, having to explain and implement consequences to my kids.

“Ankle bracelets are non-intrusive and allow the police to know where they are at all times.”

Seymour said using such bracelets would make it easy to ensure young offenders attend school.

“If they have a tracking bracelet, their mates will not want them around and penalties such as staying at home in the weekend and home after 5pm could be enforced.

“This is a simple and effective way to make kids think twice before offending and to break the habit. It sends the message our community does not accept this behaviour. It is not glamorous, it brings shame.”

It’s worth a go.