Teenager spending sixth night in a police cell, mum says authorities have failed him
Photo:
123RF
A mother says her 15-year-old son has been failed by authorities as he spends his sixth night in a police cell.
The boy, who had an extensive criminal history, was arrested last Thursday and charged with burglary after damaging a property with a group of older teenagers.
RNZ cannot name the teenager or his mother for legal reasons.
The mother said the other teenagers had either been bailed or placed into Oranga Tamariki's care.
Her son, who had ADHD and mental health issues, was the only one who remained in police custody.
He attempted to take his life on the first night in custody, his mother said.
Police said he had been remanded in police custody by a judge until his next appearance in the Youth Court later this month, or until there was a suitable secure facility available.
His mother said the boy was being transferred to an Oranga Tamariki youth justice residence on Wednesday, as a place had become free, but she was furious he had been held in a police cell for so long.
"He's not sleeping, he's not eating, he's just not coping very well in there. His mental health is going down," she said.
"I don't think it should be allowed - that's just not humane for children."
She was frustrated she was not informed at the time about his self-harm attempt and she said there had been no urgent referral to mental health services.
"That's not normally him on the outside. Yes, he has gotten himself into trouble but he's been working on getting himself back on the straight and narrow. He's been going to his course, doing all his community work for the previous charges," she said.
"He just decided he wanted to go and hang out with the wrong people, and it had to be the wrong time."
Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive youth justice services and residential care Iain Chapman confirmed a placement had been found for the 15-year-old boy.
Oranga Tamariki said sometimes it was a challenge to find a young person a bed. (File photo)
Photo:
RNZ
"When a young person is arrested and in police custody, we aim to move them into suitable alternative placements as soon as possible, in collaboration with our partners at police," he said.
"Occasionally there are challenges with how quickly an alternative placement is available, or with arrangements to move the child or young person. On these occasions, they may remain in police custody for more than 24 hours.
"This is not what we want to happen, and we monitor these situations closely. Our teams assess, review, and prioritise placements every day, or more frequently when needed."
Young people were visited and supported by Oranga Tamariki social workers while in custody, and the 15-year-old had been visited every day, in addition to safeguarding measures by police, Chapman said.
"There are currently 188 beds available in secure residences across both youth justice and care and protection facilities, and 97 beds available in community homes.
"Youth justice residences each have a 'safe operating capacity'... We have been operating at maximum safe operating capacity from time to time recently."
The boy's mother said this was the second time he had spent multiple days in police cells.
In June he was in there seven days before being transferred to Oranga Tamariki care.
"Speaking from our experience I don't think it should be allowed. If there are no spaces in OT care he should be released home. I get some youth don't have that privilege," she said.
"We just don't want this to happen to other people. We've now experienced it twice and we really do not want it to happen to other families that have young people that are struggling, especially when mental health plays a huge part in young people's lives."
Canterbury police operations manager Inspector Bryan Buck said police worked closely with Oranga Tamariki in relation to the 15-year-old.
"Under section 238 (1) (e) of the Children's and Young People's Well-being Act 1989, where a child or young person appears before the Youth Court, the court shall (if satisfied that suitable facilities for the detention in safe custody of that young person are not available) order the young person be detained in Police custody," he said.
"We work in close partnership with Oranga Tamariki, specialist mental health services, medical professionals, the Courts, legal representatives, as well as other sector agencies, to provide a supportive and safe environment that prioritises the well-being of young people during their time in police custody."
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