Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

'Court of New Beginnings' proving a success

Updated at 8:05 pm on 13 January 2012

Police in Auckland say they have had some stunning successes in the Special Circumstances Court established in November 2010.

Also known as the Court of New Beginnings, it runs a programme to rehabilitate and support homeless people caught in a cycle of low-level offending.

The area commander for Auckland City Central says there has been a 60% reduction in the number of fresh charges laid against people who have been part of the programme.

Inspector Andrew Coster says one middle-aged woman with 92 convictions has stopped reoffending completely.

Mr Coster says 80% of daylight anti-social behaviour in the city is caused by just 30 people.

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