Don’t get cops to mind kids

COPS should not be taking alleged juvenile offenders to football games or fishing trips. Put simply it’s not in their job description.

The community expects kids who commit crimes to be punished, but the State Government wants to avoid locking them up in correctional centres that are often bursting at the seams.

So more children who front the courts will be released on bail and Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer makes a good point when she says many of these kids could use some guidance to abide by their bail conditions.

Remember many of these youth come from extremely tumultuous home lives with little to no parental supervision.

Having someone pay them some care and attention could have beneficial results but that shouldn’t be a job for the police.

Burdekin MP Dale Last spent more than two decades as a cop and he hit the nail on the head when he said the main responsibility for the police was law enforcement and community safety.

Why doesn’t the Government actually create some jobs and hire youth workers to check in on these kids, make sure they’re doing the right thing and if they deserve it, take them down to the park and kick the footy.

Putting this responsibility on police just maximises the cost to taxpayers.

Officers who are taking part in Operation Regenerate will be doing so on overtime and as such being paid at a much higher rate than a part-time youth worker would demand.

There’s also a danger that those police who put their hands up to take on these bail case management duties will be doing so purely for the dollars.

Sources inside the police say the concept of taking a kid you’ve just arrested out on a recreational activity doesn’t sit well with many officers.

Police don’t need this extra responsibility and these kids need guidance from specialised people who are dedicated to their situation and needs.