A workshop held in the north has found that a large number of youths are committing crimes because they know they can avoid being sent to jail.

The Divisional Youth Network Meeting organized by the Ministry of Youth and the Australia Fiji Community Justice Programme found that crime amongst youths under the age of seventeen in the north is rising because they are covered by the Juvenile Act, which prevents them from being sent to jail.

The absence of a Juvenile Holding Centre in the north has added to the increase since most youths are released on bail, and often re-offend because they know they are protected by the law.

The meeting has called on the participants to lobby for the establishment of a Juvenile Holding Centre or to find other forms of punishment to deter youths from committing crimes.

Another suggestion is to introduce community service, where youths can do work as their way of repaying their debt to society.