By Scott MacLeod
HAMILTON - Social agencies are rallying around young Somalis in Hamilton after reports that they often carry knives and are involved in petty crime.
Hamilton youth aid police said yesterday that they and other agencies were targeting Somalis in Hamilton East aged 13 to 16 after a spree of burglaries, thefts and car breakins. At least two Somalis had threatened people with knives.
But Somalis feel they are being singled out because of problems with a small group of youths, and say some youngsters have struggled to adapt to life here.
Youth aid Constable Ted Davidson said the Somali crime rate seemed to be escalating and some were used to carrying weapons from their days in refugee camps. He was working with the Children, Young Persons and their Families Agency to set up a mentor scheme.
"The [youths] sometimes threaten people and don't realise it's wrong," he said. "We're trying to get the older ones to supervise, but I can't say we've had a lot of success."
Up to 700 Somalis, mostly Muslim, fled their war-ravaged country and arrived in Hamilton under refugee schemes. They have told harrowing tales of abuse, rape and murder in their homeland.
Some were racially abused when they first came to Hamilton, in 1993.
Ismail Gamadid of the Somali Friendship Society said most people in his community were law-abiding. Small numbers of youths were causing problems that reflected on other Somalis.
Mr Gamadid said some refugees dropped out of school after struggling to fit in, and ended up in trouble. The youths needed at least six months of teaching to prepare them for school, and the society was about to launch a bridging programme to help youngsters adapt to life here.
"We're not happy that people are focusing on us," he said. "I think it's because we're the majority black community here, and very distinctive."
The Waikato coordinator of the Refugee Resettlement Agency, Barbara Redfern, said holiday programmes had been set up with other agencies to help young Somalis. Most of their problems stemmed from living in refugee camps.
East Hamilton Senior Sergeant Kevin Richards said some locals had commented about Somali crime, but he felt they caused little more trouble than other groups.
"There's a tendency to make it sound like a crime wave, but I think they just stand out because of their colour," he said.
Police were talking with Somalis to help keep them away from crime.
Somalis in line for help to stop crime
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