Youth gangs bragging about violent crimes 'an absolute tragedy' - top cop

New Zealand's top youth crime cop says footage of youths bragging about violent crimes is "an absolute tragedy".

Police national youth manager Inspector Ross Lienert said it was important to address the issues, including alternatives to remanding teens in youth justice facilities such as small group family homes and foster care.

"Clearly if kids are going into secure remand and coming out with associates that result in this behaviour clearly that's not what we want."

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A group of youths pose after allegedly breaking into a sports store in Waikato.

His comments come after Stuff earlier revealed youth gangs across New Zealand were taking to social media to boast about crimes, including robberies and ram raids.

Some post security footage of robberies, news articles about the crimes, and photos of them with the supposed loot on their Facebook pages and on YouTube.

Lienert said the footage "saddened" him.

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One member of We Strait Aych posted a photo allegedly of him robbing a Christchurch Night 'n Day.

"Sadly I'm not surprised because over the last few years we've seen a lot of footage along those lines.

"These kids are causing a lot of harm and creating a lot of victims and that's not OK."

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Police say the footage is "disgraceful".

Lienert said nationally youth crime had halved since 2009, but admitted the top-end of youth criminals continued to cause issues for police.

"It's important to understand that there is a place sadly for secure remands and it's always that balance between keeping communities safe and dealing with underlying causes."

Lienert said it was about getting the youths out of the youth justice facilities as soon as possible and into alternate residences that set them up for better life outcomes.

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Footage posted on Youtube by youth gangs appears to show stolen cigarettes and cash.

One of the gangs understood to have bolstered its numbers inside Te Puna Wai, We Strait Aych (WSH), is understood to be responsible for a series of robberies at a Christchurch Night 'n Day store over six months.

The Ferry Rd store's staff were threatened with pistols, machetes and knives by masked youths targeting cigarettes and cash. Fifteen people were arrested.

Lienert said he did not know much about WSH, but added that youth gangs were systematic of what happened when youths were sent to secure remand.

He said the youths brought with them a "huge range" of issues that made them who they are.

"It's almost always linked to poor family, poor upbringing, exposure to violence, alcohol and drugs.

"We cannot excuse their behaviour but certainly we can understand where they come from. That's why we focus on working with that underlying stuff to stop them from causing the harm that they currently do."

He said despite the unacceptable behaviour exemplified by the youths boasting about their crimes online, he said he was "optimistic" about what police and other agencies such as Oranga Tamariki had in motion over the next few years.

National's justice spokesman Mark Mitchell said the footage was "appalling".

"We've got hardworking individuals and families being seriously victimised and for these young offenders to then brag about it online is despicable."

Mitchell said for the most part New Zealand's youth justice system worked well, however there was a small group of serious young offenders who needed to be dealt with more seriously.

He said the defence-led junior training academy based out of Waiouru, proposed by National leading into the election would have helped youths to address drivers of their offending such as addiction or a lack of literacy and numeracy skills.

"Putting them in an environment based on structure and discipline, where they are removed from bad influences, would hopefully help them lead better lives while also keeping the public safe."

Stuff approached Labour for comment but they have not yet responded.