Police in New Zealand are proposing a strategy to target children as young as nine for social investment, a move aimed at deterring future criminal behavior. This initiative, aimed at those facing significant socio-economic hardships, is one of two proposals by police under the government’s social investment agenda. Documents show police believe intervention for 9 to 12-year-olds could prevent their entry into the youth justice system.
The concept of social investment—initially advocated in 2015 by former Prime Minister Bill English—emphasizes early intervention using data to identify individuals with high needs, potentially saving on future government expenditures. The initiative is once again gaining traction, propelled by Finance and Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis. A briefing to Minister Mark Mitchell highlighted that the majority of youth crimes are committed by a small segment of young people who are severely disadvantaged, often having experienced family violence, poverty, and other challenges.
The police propose to identify these young individuals through incidents they respond to or through connections to existing offenders. While the police would not implement the support directly, they would be instrumental in identifying and referring children to the appropriate agencies.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell expressed support for the proposal, emphasizing the need for governmental support to prevent young people from pursuing a life of crime. He reiterated the importance of targeted investment to achieve the greatest impact.
The second proposal involves enhancing police response to “non-emergency” family harm situations. This aligns with past discussions about adjusting police responses to such incidents. However, details about this proposal remain limited, as key information was redacted in released documents.
Despite the proposals, specifics on whether these concepts are actively being advanced by ministers remain undisclosed. Mitchell highlighted the necessity for nuanced approaches to family violence, ensuring appropriate personnel attend to these sensitive situations.
