October 10, 2017
Concrete box wrong place for wayward child
Labour's corrections spokesperson Kelvin Davis says a police cell is no place for a 13-year-old, and the police need to try harder in their treatment of young offenders.
Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft raised the alarm on a case last week where a 13-year-old was held in cells overnight, and remained there even after police withdrew his charge of endangering transport.
Judge Becroft says it's dangerous psychologically for children and there are real risks of self-harm if not suicide.
Mr Davis says police should have looked for alternatives, even if it meant assigning more staff to monitor the child wherever he was put.
"A concrete box with bars is no place for a 13-year-old and would probably just serve to exacerbate any problems the young person has. That's the last thing we want. We want this person to be helped for whatever issue they have. They won't get the help staring at a concrete wall," he says.
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