Rotorua police say cuffing of youths is justified

Rotorua police are defending their handling of two teens who were escorted in handcuffs for two blocks through the city, a sight that horrified one member of the public.

The person contacted The Daily Post after seeing two police officers walking the youths in handcuffs from the police station on Fenton St to Child Youth and Family on Pukuatua St.

The woman, who didn't want to be named, said the children looked about 10 and she was astonished to see young people being treated that way by the police.

She questioned why they were in handcuffs and why they weren't transported like other arrested people, in a police car.

"They were children. You don't treat young people like that. The only reason the police did that was to make fun of them," the woman said.

"[The children] probably behave like this in the first place because of the way they have been treated and then the police do that."

Rotorua police area commander Inspector Bruce Horne said the children, who were in fact 12 and 13, were an "extreme" flight risk and he was confident the actions of police were lawful and appropriate.

Mr Horne said the teens were prolific offenders, who frequently came to the police's attention.

Mr Horne said legislation stated police were able to arrest young people but there were special considerations for those under 14, including they must be delivered into the care of their Child Youth and Family social worker.

On Tuesday, February 28, the youths ran away from their Child Youth and Family home in which they had been placed after previous offending. One was caught on Thursday for allegedly shoplifting, after a foot chase through the central business district.

Mr Horne said the police returned the teen to his Child Youth and Family home, as required by legislation. Police said he again ran away and both boys were caught by police about 9pm on Thursday after allegedly lighting fires in the western suburbs.

That night, police contacted Child Youth and Family to discuss the boys and they agreed it was appropriate they were held in police custody overnight.

The youths were kept in a secure part of the police station, not in a cell and were separate from other prisoners.

On Friday morning they were taken to their social worker at the Child Youth and Family office in Pukuatua St. Mr Horne said they were not driven because there was an increased flight risk if there was no parking immediately outside. He said two cars would have been required to transport them, as an officer would need to be seated in the back seat with another officer driving, a total of four staff.

"On that day, at that particular time, the most efficient way of transporting them to Child Youth and Family was to undertake the short walk from the police station."

Mr Horne said it was appropriate they were in handcuffs.

"In this particular case and with these particular young people, the actions taken by police were appropriate and lawful given the offending and history."