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Police v BM (8 February 2007, YC, Auckland, CRI: 2006-204-000759) Judge Becroft

Name: Police v BM
Unreported:
File number: CRI: 2006-204-000759
Court: Youth Court
Location: Auckland
Date: 8 February 2007
Judge: Becroft DCJ
Charge:
CYPFA:
Key title: Reports – Social Worker
Case Summary: A late and inadequate Social Worker’s Report highlighted a “woefully concerning” state of affairs regarding CYFS social services. That was the view of Judge Becroft when dealing with BM, a long standing offender whose offences in early 2006 had lead to a supervision order and community work order in May 2006. The community work order had “effectively collapsed”. BM admitted further (unresolved) offending in June 2006 and had offended in January 2007. Consequently, the social work report was finally provided to the Court in February.

The social worker was not in Court and the young person was adamant he had never met the social worker. Judge Becroft noted that the very late delivery of the social work report breached all statutory requirements and considered it “grossly unacceptable”. Further, the report was superficial, accurate chronologically but deficient in terms of the serious and comprehensive interventions necessary for BM, particularly with regard to addressing his alcohol and other drug and anger problems.