The Children's Minister says initiatives to address youth crime will provide needed consequences for young offenders.

The Government is proposing to introduce a Youth Serious Offender declaration, meaning the courts could send them to a military style academy.

Legislation will be introduced before the end of the year, while a pilot academy begins in Palmerston North at the end of July.

Karen Chhour says we can't keep letting young offenders keep causing harm in local communities.

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