An increase in ram raids has encouraged a belief that youth crime is out of control but experts say it’s not a result of “being soft on crime”, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in The Bulletin.

Do ram raids point to rising youth crime rates? 

It’s been impossible to read the news recently without encountering a story about ram raids. I got eight pages into a Google news search and still hadn’t hit the end of coverage. It can lead to an assumption that youth crime rates are rising. Stuff’s Katie Doyle took a look at that question and found that they’re not. Overall, youth crime rates are down 63-65% between 2010/11 and 2020/21. But the police have said those involved in ram raids are under 20 and youth advocates are concerned. Jack Tame spoke to one of the authors of a report on youth offenders, clinical psychologist Ian Lambie, on Q&A on Sunday.

The risk of moral panic amid calls for a punitive approach

Tame asked Lambie whether there was risk of a “moral panic” around ram raids, resulting in calls for a punitive approach. Lambie said yes. During a panel discussion on The Nation on Saturday, executive producer of The Hui Annabelle Lee-Mather said “It’s important that we don’t over blow it into this huge community issue when actually there’s plenty more rangatahi in our communities doing awesome mahi.” Youth workers have cautioned against a punitive approach saying these kids are living in poverty and often have ​​fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other disabilities. Police minister Poto Williams said it requires a “whole of society” approach after the children’s commissioner called on the government to intervene.

We’re not “soft on crime”, but we need to be smart on crime

National party police spokesperson Mark Mitchell said the ram raids are due to the government being “soft on crime”. Lambie disagreed in his Q&A interview saying we’re not soft on crime but that we need to get smart on crime. Christopher Luxon addressed his party’s Canterbury Westland regional conference on Saturday. When asked about his approach to the problem, he laid out a three-step plan that included police reviewing its pursuit policy and a gang task force. He also drew a line between truancy and youth violence. Oranga Tamariki confirmed that most involved in ram raids are not attending school.

Truancy plan launched in pre-budget announcement 

In a pre-budget announcement on Sunday afternoon, education minister Chris Hipkins announced a $88m commitment to reduce truancy rates. Figures from term two this year show 40% of kids aren’t attending school regularly, up 10% on 2015. An inquiry into school attendance was launched in July last year and the report from the education and work committee was released in March. The report recommended that the government develop a school attendance strategy and set targets for regular school attendance of 70% by 2024 and 75% by 2026.