The Prime Minister says he's not giving up on children doing ram-raids

Chris Hipkins this morning announced the Government's creating a new offence targeting raids -- and allowing 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in the youth court.

But he says this is not a lock 'em up and throw away the key, policy.

He says he won't write off those kids - who if they're 12 years old, have their whole life ahead of them.

He says he's not willing to just give up and say they're spending their lives in and out of prison.

Hipkins says the Government can do better than that.