Cafe blamed for schoolboy truancy

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An internet cafe owner has been criticised by police for a lack of "social responsibility" for allowing a schoolboy to play computer games during school hours.

The 11-year-old boy had stolen $150 from a boarder at his home, and used the money on video games in the Hamilton cafe, police said.

"The boy was reported to be in an internet cafe in Garden Place last Wednesday, playing video games instead of being at school," Hamilton Youth Aid Coordinator, Sergeant Scott Miller, said.

"The boy's father attempted to get him to come out on several occasions but the son refused. Police were called, and it was established the boy had stolen $150 from a boarder at his home and used the money to enable certain computer functions and games in the cafe."

The cafe owner "wasn't concerned" about the boy being in the shop during school hours, Mr Miller said.

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"The worker also wasn't troubled that the money he spent was stolen and refused to return the funds, and the family had to take money from their food budget to reimburse their boarder," Mr Miller said.

"Our message as police is that the cafe needs to take some social responsibility and consider the impact of allowing school-aged children into their premises during school hours unchallenged."

Not doing so "invited continuing truancy" among youths, he said, and potentially created further victims of crime.

"Ten days ago we spoke about the need for capable guardians and asked people to report suspicious activity involving youths after a number of burglaries in Matamata. Today we ask the same thing of people in Hamilton, if you see something not right then do something, and that's ring 111."