News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: Hard Line Urged On Drug Parents |
| Title: | New Zealand: Hard Line Urged On Drug Parents |
| Published On: | 2002-04-01 |
| Source: | New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-24 13:56:51 |
HARD LINE URGED ON DRUG PARENTS
Commissioner for Children Roger McClay has called for youngsters to be
taken from irresponsible parents caught homebaking drugs.
Police have found children living in potentially explosive cannabis oil and
methamphetamine manufacturing environments during several drug busts.
Mr McClay will take his concerns to Police Commissioner Rob Robinson and
chief social worker Shannon Pakura.
"These sorts of parents are so irresponsible that their children shouldn't
be with them," he said. "These children are in need of care and protection."
Last week, a Masterton home was gutted when a stove-top cannabis oil
production operation went wrong. Three children, one a 2-year-old, were
inside the house at the time.
The children had to leap out a window to safety as their home burned down
around them.
Two were treated at hospital for smoke inhalation.
Detectives investigating the case said that if any of the children had died
the mother would potentially be facing a manslaughter charge.
Former Women's Refuge head Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, now the Christian
Heritage candidate for Wairarapa, supports Mr McClay's stance.
"We could have been going to a funeral here," she said. "It is just that
serious and something should be done."
Other similar incidents have included:
* A 5-year-old boy found with adults who were arrested at a mobile
methamphetamine lab in a Wellington motel in January.
* A child found living on the same property as a methamphetamine lab at
Waitarere Beach, north of Wellington, this year.
* A National Drug Intelligence Bureau discovery that a methamphetamine lab
raided by the police was venting into an adjacent school.
Child, Youth and Family spokesman Stephen Ward said the service was
concerned by any situation where children were subject to "ongoing risk",
such as homebaking drugs.
"We will be happy to listen to what [Mr McClay] has to say.
"We are obviously keen to ensure kids are kept away from dangerous criminal
activity. If we are alerted to such situations we are duty bound to
investigate them."
Commissioner for Children Roger McClay has called for youngsters to be
taken from irresponsible parents caught homebaking drugs.
Police have found children living in potentially explosive cannabis oil and
methamphetamine manufacturing environments during several drug busts.
Mr McClay will take his concerns to Police Commissioner Rob Robinson and
chief social worker Shannon Pakura.
"These sorts of parents are so irresponsible that their children shouldn't
be with them," he said. "These children are in need of care and protection."
Last week, a Masterton home was gutted when a stove-top cannabis oil
production operation went wrong. Three children, one a 2-year-old, were
inside the house at the time.
The children had to leap out a window to safety as their home burned down
around them.
Two were treated at hospital for smoke inhalation.
Detectives investigating the case said that if any of the children had died
the mother would potentially be facing a manslaughter charge.
Former Women's Refuge head Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, now the Christian
Heritage candidate for Wairarapa, supports Mr McClay's stance.
"We could have been going to a funeral here," she said. "It is just that
serious and something should be done."
Other similar incidents have included:
* A 5-year-old boy found with adults who were arrested at a mobile
methamphetamine lab in a Wellington motel in January.
* A child found living on the same property as a methamphetamine lab at
Waitarere Beach, north of Wellington, this year.
* A National Drug Intelligence Bureau discovery that a methamphetamine lab
raided by the police was venting into an adjacent school.
Child, Youth and Family spokesman Stephen Ward said the service was
concerned by any situation where children were subject to "ongoing risk",
such as homebaking drugs.
"We will be happy to listen to what [Mr McClay] has to say.
"We are obviously keen to ensure kids are kept away from dangerous criminal
activity. If we are alerted to such situations we are duty bound to
investigate them."
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