Police, Oranga Tamariki and community providers in Auckland are trialling a "whānau-focused' approach to address a youth crime wave gripping the city.
It comes amid a spike in ram-raid robberies with the majority of those involved being under 17 years old.
Senior Sergeant Craig Clark said the planning for the trial has been underway for the past month.
Clark said the trial is based on an existing model involving a cross-agency response to family harm in Counties Manukau.
"Police and our partners continue to be concerned by the level of risk posed to the community and the young people themselves when they are becoming involved in stealing vehicles and committing ram-raid style burglaries," senior sergeant Clark said.
The three-month trial will work with young people and their families initially in the Counties Manukau District. Then the approach could be expanded across the city.
Senior Sergeant Clark said there are often complex and challenging circumstances that play a role in the behaviour of the children, which is why a multi-agency approach is required.
"Police will continue to investigate this offending when it occurs and identify those responsible, but we recognise that police alone don’t hold the solutions to preventing youth crime.”
Oranga Tamariki South Auckland Regional Manager Alison Cronin said it’s important for communities and families to lead the way with the right support in place from partner agencies.
“The majority of young people and tamariki we work with experience family violence, exposure to drugs and alcohol, truancy, mental health problems, and neuro or learning disabilities.
"Wrap-around support for young people and their families to address these risk factors is crucial – we know that a stable home life reduces risk.”
It comes as a crime wave continues to grip the city. Earlier in the week, three people were arrested after several break-ins and ram-raids across Auckland.
And just last month thieves smashed their way into an Auckland dairy in Penrose. It followed a store in Mount Roskill, a gas station in Titirangi and a dairy in Mairangi Bay Dairy being targeted as well.
Meanwhile down the country in Christchurch, a Thirsty Liquor storefront was completely smashed.
