The Sensible Sentencing Trust has today commented on the high public opposition to the Green Party and Opportunity Party’s crime policy of raising the Youth Court age to 25 - from 17 at present.

National spokesperson Louise Parsons today said: “The New Zealand public are smart. They know raising the Youth Court jurisdiction from 17 to 25 would encourage more crime: more ram raids, more burglaries, more car thefts, more chaos & higher insurance premiums.

“Sensible Sentencing is heartened that polling released today by the Taxpayers’ Union shows a strong majority of New Zealanders reject these soft-on-crime policies.

“Offenders aged 18 – 25 are at the peak of their offending trajectory.  Around 25% of all sexual offending is committed by this cohort of just 7 years’.  Nearly 4200 sexual offenders according to Ministry of Justice statistics.

“Raising the age of the Youth Court to 25 would mean, in most cases:

• No prison - not even home detention

• No reporting

• No convictions

The most ‘punitive’ sentence that can be imposed in the Youth Court is 6 months in a ‘secure youth facility’.

“The Opportunity Party calls this ‘Smart on Crime’.  Most New Zealanders know its dumb.  It will reduce consequences and increase crime.  Victims will suffer.” concluded Ms Parsons.