CRIME FEEDS KIDS' HABITS

Nelson children as young as 11 and 12 are committing crimes to support
alcohol and drug habits, a district court judge says.

Judge John Walker says 80 per cent of young people going through the Nelson
Youth Court have alcohol or drug abuse issues, and very young people are
binge-drinking on "huge quantities" of spirits.

Judge Walker says many youths who commit crimes do so to support their
dependency on alcohol and drugs.

Most offences are opportunistic crimes such as dishonesty, car conversions
and theft.

Judge Walker says someone needs to take a look at drug education programmes
nationally and critically assess them so the issues can be dealt with more
effectively.