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- By Andrew Bayly, MP for Port Waikato
I recently met with a local family who runs a small business in Pukekohe. They had been
broken into twice over one weekend, with the thieves causing extensive damage.
broken into twice over one weekend, with the thieves causing extensive damage.
Fortunately, on the second night, the family had been monitoring the CCTV and witnessed the break-in.
The police were called, and the thieves were caught. They were all youths.
While no one was hurt, the shopkeepers are traumatised. This is their livelihood, and it affects three generations within their family. They just want to feel safe again.
Sadly, their story mirrors those of other local businesses and homeowners who have been the victims of crime.
Restoring law and order in our communities was a promise our government made at the last election. There has been some progress: a 13 per cent reduction in serious and persistent offending by young people, and 28,000 fewer victims of violent crime since October last year (with a significant drop in the Auckland region).
You will have noticed there are more police out and about in our town centres and on our
roads. Gang patches have been banned in public places, and the Three Strikes legislation is
back.
However, there is still much to be done, and recently we have made several announcements that build on the work to date.
Our new sentencing reforms have kicked in, restoring real consequences for crime.
Sentencing discounts that judges can apply have been capped at 40 per cent, with no repeat discounts for youth or remorse. The reforms also encourage cumulative sentencing for offences committed while on bail, in custody, or on parole.
To better protect our hardworking police officers, firefighters, paramedics and prison officers, we are introducing new offences to ensure those who assault first responders receive mandatory prison sentences. We’re also introducing a specific offence for a ‘coward punch’.
People often feel that shoplifters are let off lightly, and businesses feel powerless to prevent
these thefts. As a result, we are introducing new shoplifting charges and strengthening
existing penalties. We’re also making changes to the trespass laws to make them more
effective and practicable for businesses.
Every Kiwi deserves the right to feel safe at work, at home and in their community.
For electorate issues, contact me at andrew@baylymp.co.nz
