Editorial: Cruel girls need harsh punishment

Linda Hall.

The TV footage of a Papatoetoe store worker being viciously beaten on Wednesday night was distressing.

What has our society come to when not one, not even two, but six females take on a lone, young, absolutely defenceless girl?

It wasn't just the female (I refuse to call her a woman) who repeatedly kicked and punched the girl that disgusted me.

It was also the five others who went about methodically robbing the shop without a care for the young girl's welfare.

Six of them! My goodness, how brave they are. And all for the sake of some cigarettes and cash.

I've no doubt that they have grown up in violent homes. How else would you learn this behaviour?

The shop attendant was left with serious facial injuries. However, I imagine it's the scars on the inside that will last a lot longer.

She said she felt unsafe when someone entered the shop. Who can blame her for that? I think she's so brave to go back out there facing the public, never knowing who is coming through the door.

Dairies appear to be an easy target for these cowards. Just look at how many are robbed in Hawke's Bay.

Detectives are hunting the group. When they are caught they need to be dealt with harshly.

No second chance to go out and reoffend.

Jail is where they should be and where they should stay until they learn how to behave in a civilised society.

That means getting a job and paying for your own cigarettes.