Youth crime jumps, social worker blames service cuts

A youth worker says he's not surprised the number of teenagers appearing in court for robbery has risen by more than 50 percent in the past year. Ministry of Justice figures reveal more than 260 10 to 16-year-olds were in court for robbery and similar offences in the year to June, up 56 percent on the previous year. Sully Paea is a retired youth worker in Otara, and told RNZ reporter Adriana Weber the problem has got worse since some support services were cut earlier this year.