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- By Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister and MP for Botany
Our Government was elected on a promise to restore law and order.
Since the election, we’ve made real progress and our record shows that.
We’re on track to surpass both our law and order targets ahead of schedule, with significant early progress in reducing youth offending and violent crime.
Youth crime is dropping fast – a 13 per cent reduction in serious and persistent offending by young people has already been achieved.
We’ve put victims back at the heart of our justice system, and our tough-on-crime approach has resulted in 28,000 fewer victims of violent crime compared to when we came into Government, with significant drops for Auckland and Canterbury.
Our new sentencing reforms have just kicked in, restoring real consequences for crime.
The reforms cap sentencing discounts that judges can apply at 40 per cent, prevent repeat discounts for youth and remorse, and encourage cumulative sentencing for offences committed while on bail, in custody, or on parole.
But we know there’s more work to be done. We recently made several announcements that build on our plan to restore law and order.
We’re creating a new response for assaulting first responders, because our hardworking police officers, firefighters, paramedics and prison officers deserve better when they put their lives on the line to save others.
Injuring a first responder or prison officer with intent will have a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and will be added to Three Strikes to ensure mandatory minimum sentences in line with that regime.
We’re also introducing a specific coward punch offence to ensure perpetrators receive tougher offences.
Coward punches are incredibly dangerous – people can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet current sentences are often insufficient.
We’ll make sure those who commit a coward punch offence with intent to cause grievous bodily harm could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail.
Our new shoplifting charges will mean that for stolen goods valued up to $500, infringement fees will be up to $500. For goods valued at over $500, fees will be up to $1,000.
We’ll also strengthen existing theft penalties, with a maximum of one year imprisonment for theft of a value under $2,000 and seven years’ imprisonment for theft over the value of $7,000.
We’re serious about restoring law and order, and the progress we have made shows that.
Every Kiwi deserves the right to feel safe at work, at home, and in their communities.
