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Call for joint effort on juvenile crime

New Goldfields-Esperance District Superintendent Darren Seivwright says some people need to change the way they think about juvenile crime.

A police officer since 1985, Supt Seivwright was officially recommended to succeed Kevin Looby on Friday, November 23.

The 45-year-old said breaking the cycle of juvenile offending was up to families and the wider community, not the justice system

“There are kids floating around our streets, in Kalgoorlie, in the Goldfields, who aren’t being properly parented and are almost always getting up to mischief,” he said.

“The question I ask is, ‘what’s going to change in these kids’ lives?’

“(The justice system) provides a number of diversionary options for children to change their behaviour and I think that’s a good thing.

“It provides a broad brush approach that fits most of the community, but there are always those people on the fringes who will be challenging.”

Supt Seivwright said ultimately, parents had to take responsibility for their children.