A Government report reveals youth offenders in the South Island have received harsher sentences than their North Island counterparts.
Research carried out by the Ministry of Social Development analysed data on crimes carried out by 14 - 16 year olds during a five-year period.
The heaviest sentence imposed by the Youth Court is supervision at a residence run by Child, Youth and Family.
Between 2002 - 2007, proportionally more youth offenders in the South Island received this sentence than in any other region.
Both CYF and the police refuse to comment on the statistics, saying it is the courts which decide the punishment.
