Getting involved with Police
If a young person is being questioned about an offence, or is going to be arrested or charged, the police must:
- explain the young person's rights to them
- give them a chance to talk privately to a lawyer and/or parent or guardian, or another adult they trust
- not take a statement without another adult being there; the adult must be a parent or guardian, or someone from the whanau or family group, and/or a lawyer, or some other trusted adult the young person chooses
- let the adult see the young person and talk to them properly in private.
When no one else is suitable, the police can choose a support person. It must be someone the young person can trust, and not a police officer.
If a young person is charged and has to appear in court, the parent, guardian, caregiver or other trusted person must be told. They will be given a notice that the young person has been charged. The notice must also explain all their rights and obligations through the court case.
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