A National Party government would lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12, the party said today
National leader Bill English said serious offending by 12 and 13 year olds -- who are two young to be covered by the Youth Court -- had jumped sharply in the lasttwo years.
Under National's youth crime policy, young offenders would be subject to earlier intervention by the courts and police youth aid, expansion of restorative justice programmes and making parents more accountable for their children's actions, he said.
Mr English gave no details about how much enforcing the policy would cost.
He said lowering the age at which children had to account for their actions in court was "a common sense approach to responsibility".
In Australian states the age of criminal responsibility varied from 7 to 10, in the United Kingdom the age was 10 and in Canada 12.
"Earlier intervention is the key and National will reinforce this with programmes to build the confidence and self esteem of young offenders to get them back on track. We will boost the Youth Life Skills programme and Limited Services Volunteer scheme and expand the scope of the Youth Court," Mr English said.
The Youth Court would also be given more power "to make parents accountable where appropriate for the actions of their children."
Other promises in National's youth crime policy included:
* Allowing the Youth Court to impose curfews and alcohol bans;
* Setting up a review to deal with alcohol problems and offending associated with young people;
* Helping people with serious drug and alcohol problems get into work; and
