Community leaders and youth advocates in New Zealand have launched a petition to oppose the Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill, which has sparked controversy over its potential impact on youth sentencing. The bill, if passed, would allow for ram raid sentences of up to 10 years in jail and grant police the authority to prosecute children as young as 12. Critics argue that the bill fails to address the underlying causes of youth crime and violates the human rights of children. The petition, which has already gathered over 1,600 signatures, is calling on all political parties to withdraw their support for the bill. The collective behind the petition is urging for a bi-partisan, evidence-based approach to address community concerns. The petition is scheduled to be delivered to parliament later this month [fc3e2d3b].
In a related development, a recent case in the United Kingdom has raised questions about the use of conspiracy law and the weaponization of drill music and gang narratives in court against young black defendants. Seventeen-year-old Ade-mola Adedeji, a talented rugby and basketball player, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the age of 20 for conspiracy charges. The only evidence against him was his participation in a group chat on the Telegram messaging app, where friends vented their grief and anger following the murder of Ade's friend. Although no violence occurred as a result of the chat, Ade and nine other teenagers were charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. The prosecution used their friendships, shared interests, and drill music lyrics and videos found on their phones as evidence of gang membership and violent intent. Ade and three friends who were only involved in the group chat were given eight-year sentences. The case has sparked a debate about miscarriages of justice and the potential misuse of conspiracy law in the age of social media [18a6fc5b].