THE LETTER OF THE LAW

POLICE are including some old strategies among their methods in dealing with kids at risk in this high-tech era.

With assaults on children increasing at a worrying rate over the past decade and many incidents said to involve opposing groups of juveniles, often in areas a long way from home, the task in reining in the problem will require a mix of smart ideas and tried and tested methods.

As the Bulletin reports today, officers are mailing letters to parents whose children are spoken to by police late at night.

Police say most of those kids have not been doing anything unlawful.

But the mere fact they are out alone or, more likely, roving the streets in groups at a late hour puts them at risk of being led astray or targeted by young thugs, muggers, people pushing drugs or sleazebags.

Sadly, some parents probably do not care or are not in a fit state at the time to know where their kids are.

Most parents though may have been duped by an act of deceit, believing their child is at a friend’s place when in fact the teens – or even younger children – have conned the adults.

Our investigation reveals that last year, there were 397 reports of Gold Coast children aged up to 17 being victims of assault.

Police and other experts suggest social media has played a part, as well as improved access to public transport.

But there are also factors such as domestic violence presenting new and difficult problems for society.

Ironically though, using snail mail to give parents a heads-up alert is probably considerably more effective in shocking parents out of their ignorance of what the kids have been getting up to than any “new’’ means of contact. A word from the officer in charge of the Child Protection Unit, on Queensland Police Service letterhead paper, still carries sufficient impact to sound alarm bells in the home.

And that is where most problems can and should be headed off.