Police Propose Social Investment Targeting ‘At Risk’ Children
Police are advocating for the targeting of ‘at risk’ children as young as nine for social investment in order to prevent them from becoming involved in criminal activities. This proposal, along with another initiative to enhance the non-emergency response to family harm, has been put forth by the police for inclusion in the government’s social investment work programme, as revealed in ministerial documents obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act.
The concept of social investment, which involves utilizing data and evidence to identify individuals with the most pressing needs, was initially promoted in 2015 by former Prime Minister Bill English. The aim is to intervene early to potentially save government expenditure over an individual’s lifetime. The recent resurgence of social investment is spearheaded by Finance and Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis, who previously worked with English.
According to a briefing presented to Police Minister Mark Mitchell in May, police are suggesting targeted prevention support for 9 to 12-year-olds to deter their entry into the youth justice system. The document highlights that a significant portion of youth crime is committed by a small percentage of young people facing substantial adversity and hardship.
These children are more likely to have experienced family violence, poverty, involvement with Oranga Tamariki, and have parents grappling with drug or alcohol addiction, mental health issues, or a history of incarceration. The proposed approach aims to provide support to children in this age group to ensure their success and prevent their involvement in the youth justice system within the next five years.
Although police would not be responsible for implementing such a programme, they could assist by identifying and referring children who could benefit from targeted support. Minister Mitchell expressed his backing for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of intervening to support young offenders and prevent further criminal behavior.
While details regarding the second social investment proposal focused on enhancing the non-emergency response to family harm were redacted from the documents, Mitchell emphasized the government’s commitment to appropriately triaging calls related to family violence incidents to ensure the most suitable response is provided.
As the government continues to explore avenues for effective social investment, the goal remains to strategically allocate resources to generate the most significant impact and returns for the country as a whole.
