Cruisy time at sea for young criminals

Young criminals in Denmark have been sent on Caribbean cruises in an attempt to reform their behaviour.

Local councils have spent a combined € 5.4 million (NZ$8.59m) sending criminals and drug abusers on far-flung holidays, according to the MetroExpress newspaper. Fifty-nine young criminals have reportedly spent a year or more aboard two Danish sailing ketches at a cost of nearly € 95,000 each to the taxpayer. One young offender, Christian, who robbed a convenience store, said: ‘‘I climbed volcanoes twice, went jet-skiing many times and made excursions into the jungle, although I didn’t manage to completely finish my diving certificate.’’

Flemming Olsen, director of family affairs at Frederikssund council on the island of Zealand, who has put 12 youths on the programme, run by Den Maritime Base, a rehabilitation company, said he had no regrets.

‘‘The Caribbean might sound like an exotic place to go, but it’s important to stress that we are in no way talking about a holiday. We are doing this so that they can get away from an environment of drug abuse.

‘‘They may be caught up in crime, such as drug-dealing and theft.’’

John Schmidt Andersen, the town’s mayor, defended the scheme at a time when his council is being forced to find € 4 million in cuts. ‘‘I agree that it looks strange. But this isn’t a cruise. There are demands made. I don’t care what they do as long as they stop abusing,’’ he said.

Christian, 22, said that he had found it easy to get hold of marijuana during his year on one of the ships. On his return to Denmark, Christian began dealing drugs then joined AK81, a street gang linked to the Hells Angels.

Ole Jacobssen, chief executive of Frederikssund council, said Christian had been sent home early after threatening the captain of his ship.