I was shocked to read that a petition has begun to raise the youth justice age to 21 years from 17. Think of tiny Nia Glassie - murdered by a group of young people, who would, under this proposed new legislation, be unable to be tried in an adult court. At age 16 they are old enough to get a firearm licence and drive a vehicle, at age 18 to buy alcohol, vote, marry, obtain a benefit, but are apparently not old enough to understand responsibility? Now in Rotorua, five youths under 17 years of age have been arrested for the home invasion and assault of a 92-year-old wheelchair-bound woman. Three of them had escaped from Rotorua youth prison after they had savagely assaulted three prison guards, knocking out two of them. These thugs were free to wander the streets because the severe restrictions of the youth justice system means the Police and prison personnel would have been breaking the law if they had alerted the media or public and breached the ‘human rights' of the youth involved. I hope the politicians have enough public responsibility to toss this petition where it belongs - in the trash can!

R Bishop, Pyes Pa.