Most know that Labour is soft on crime. Recent events regarding offences by young people confirms this. This includes ram raids, violence of all kinds; particularly sexual violence.

We need to bring back borstals being special prisons for young people. Not for punishment but for giving them a proper education, particularly where their parents have failed, and the state has to pick up the pieces. Borstals should be reasonably easy to abscond from, but with punishment being a firm deterrent.

Example: shoplifting. I understand that the Police refuse to attend if the value is less than $20. However, Police have rules imposed that handicap their effectiveness. Start with the reality of a night in the cells.

Overall, we should stop listening to all the do-gooders and give more support to the victims, particularly in the sense that the punishment fits the crime.

Sentencing rules should also be modified. Why discounts for a poor upbringing? Instead an increase, to reflect the burden on society. Being born to the wrong parents means that a person starts life from a disadvantage. Tough, but no different to others who have disadvantaged starts for many other reasons.

I am all for rehabilitation, it just needs to start off from a firm base. With that youthful ram raids would disappear overnight.

Bill Capamagian, Tauranga City.