Youth crime

THANKS to Barb McGovern for her well-considered letter (TC, 12/7) on youth crime.

The aspects of youth crime she covered, as well as factors such as poverty, childhood trauma, developmental delays, time in out-of-home care, while not excusing offences, are all elements that need to be fully understood in any effort to tackle this crime wave.

Ms McGovern ended her letter with two important questions: “Where does responsibility lie?” And “How are the solutions to be found?”

She’s 100% correct when she says politicians, police and youth agencies can only do so much. Generally, parents of these kids aren’t equipped to guide their children in making good life choices. So who?

It will take a community, working together to find solutions. We know detention hasn’t worked. But there are not enough alternatives, and there’s not enough early intervention to help parents develop their skills, to lift people out of poverty, or to break drug dependence.

These kids themselves will need a lot of support to face the biggest challenge in their lives – changing: turning their backs on their mates in crime, taking responsibility for their actions, learning to trust, learning how to learn, believing in themselves and understanding that they can have a future.

We all know that there’s an urgent need for action. Most of us know too that, given a decent chance, kids will opt for a better life. There are two ways people can help: by learning about what needs to be done; by supporting those working in the field. The work they do alongside police helps to make ours a safe community – for everyone.

PHIL ARMIT, Harristown