Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill

The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill would add ‘ram-raids’ to the Crimes Act, punishable by up to ten years in jail, and give police the power to prosecute children as young as 12 years old. This submission is our response to this Bill becoming law.

Mana Mokopuna does not support this Bill. We are unaware of any evidence that demonstrates the changes proposed by the Bill, which are intended to disincentives ram raids, will prevent or respond effectively to this type of offending.

Mana Mokopuna - Children and Young People’s Commission is committed to upholding the rights of all mokopuna and prioritising early intervention solutions that safeguard and uphold the rights of the child are most likely to be effective in both addressing and preventing offending by children and young.

Child offending does not happen in a vacuum and restorative solutions are the answer – not a criminal response. Instead, we encourage a commitment to the rights, interests, and well-being of mokopuna as it sets up all mokopuna up to live their best lives; ‘kia kuru pounamu te rongo.’

The changes proposed in the Bill will, on the contrary, undermine the rights, interests, and wellbeing of mokopuna.