Plans are progressing for Youth Offender Military Academies as the Government works on ways to reduce youth crime.

Tauranga has seen numerous ram raids in Bayfair Shopping Centre, let alone in the CBD, Pāpāmoa and Matua, all done by youths, says Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell.

Sam says the academies, delivered by Oranga Tamariki, will be a tool used for the most serious of youth crimes.

Youth Justice Residences and Homes deputy chief executive Tusha Penny says “Oranga Tamariki is responding to the Government’s directive to make steps towards strengthening its response to serious youth offending.

“Alongside strengthening our prevention work, Oranga Tamariki is working toward the creation of the new Young Serious Offender designation.

“Work to design a pilot of the military-style academy is well under way with partner agencies and we recognise the Government’s desire to have this up and running this year. 

“Oranga Tamariki is aiming to work alongside providers and the community to deliver the programme with the outcome of helping young people choose an alternative pathway to crime.”

Youth Offender Military Academies: What does this mean for Tauranga and the BOP?

Sam says the National-led government is focused on restoring law and order.

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. File Photo.

“People in Tauranga and across the Bay of Plenty deserve to feel safe in their own homes, businesses and communities.

“Our government is cracking down on youth offending to reduce future offending.

“We are committed to creating more tools to respond to the most serious and persistent young offenders, which includes the establishment of military-style academies and the creation of a new Young Serious Offender designation.”

Sam says Oranga Tamariki will be leading and delivering the programme.

“Under the previous Government, violent crime, retail crime, and youth offending spiralled out of control.

“We have seen this in Tauranga with numerous ram raids in Bayfair during daytime shopping hours, with youths brazenly using axes and hammers to smash into Michael Hill Jewellers, terrifying staff and families.

“Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford and I have conducted numerous welfare calls on businesses ram-raided across Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.

“We’ve seen it from Bayfair to the CBD, from Pāpāmoa to Matua; it’s been occurring across almost every suburb of Tauranga.

“We also hear numerous reports of anti-social behaviour by youths in the CBD and on the bus network, and we commend the excellent work TCC’s Paul Mason has done in helping identify repeat youth offenders and making the city a safer place.”

However, Sam says there is still more work to do.

Youth Offender Military Academies are just one tool in the toolbox, he says.

“We are also backing our police and cracking down on gangs, which often exploit youth and have them carry out crimes on their behalf.

“We have set an ambitious target by 2030 of a 15 per cent reduction in the total number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour.

“Likewise, we are focused on reducing violent crime and have set a target of 20,000 fewer people who are victims of an assault, robbery, or sexual assault.”

He says there are a lot of community providers out there doing excellent work with youth, such as the Graeme Dingle Foundation.

“Where we see community solutions that work we will back them up to deliver within their local communities.

“Ultimately we need to get our kids back to school, which is why we have set a target of 80 per cent of students being present for more than 90 per cent of the term.

“This will help enable students to be at curriculum level, and we’ve set a target of 80 per cent of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths by December 2030.

“Students who are at school and engaged in learning are a lot less likely to be absent and engaged in the type of anti-social youth behaviour our community is being subjected to.

“We are ambitious for the youth of Tauranga and New Zealand.”