Police and Oranga Tamariki representatives will work with community providers in Auckland as part of a trial that aims to address the underlying factors leading young people to engage in risky behaviour and offending.
The Noel Leeming store in Ormiston was ram raided last month. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The strengthened multi-agency response, which will initially focus on young people and their families from across the Counties Manukau District, will be whānau-focused and collaborative.
Senior Sergeant Craig Clark said planning for the trial had been underway for the past month and was based off an existing model involving a cross-agency response to family harm in the district.
"Police and our partners continue to be concerned by the level of risk posed to the community and the young people themselves when they are becoming involved in stealing vehicles and committing ram-raid style burglaries," said Clark.
Options to expand the approach across the Auckland region would be looked at following the initial three-month trial period, which is being supported by the South Auckland Social Wellbeing Board.
Clark said there were often complex and challenging circumstances which influenced the behaviours of these children, meaning a multi-disciplinary approach was required.
"Police will continue to investigate this offending when it occurs and identify those responsible, but we recognise that police alone don't hold the solutions to preventing youth crime."
Oranga Tamariki South Auckland Regional Manager Alison Cronin said it was important for communities and families to lead the way, with the right support in place from partner agencies.
"The majority of young people and tamariki we work with experience family violence, exposure to drugs and alcohol, truancy, mental health problems, and neuro or learning disabilities.
"Wrap-around support for young people and their families to address these risk factors is crucial - we know that a stable home life reduces risk."