Age 10-14 Youth Crime Spikes
November 5, 2022
However, police data does show an uptick since the start of 2022 in the number of proceedings (alleged crimes) committed by people aged 10-19.
In Christchurch, alleged crimes by children aged between 10 and 14 are at their highest levels in almost a decade.
Between 2017 and 2021 numbers fluctuated between six and 45 a month, but this surged to 84 in August this year. The previous monthly high was 80, in December 2014.
Children’s Commissioner Frances Eivers earlier said the reasons behind the offending are complex and include the increased cost of living, impacts of the pandemic, children not being at school and unstable homes.