More Police on beats, Three Strikes to return by November
Venkat Raman
Auckland, June 23, 2024
Tougher laws to tackle gangs, criminals and other offenders greater power to the Police and the Law Courts to award stringent punishment and more cops on the streets of Auckland Central District (CBD) are among the measures being implemented by the government.
Prime Minister Christophe Luxon announced that new laws to enforce these rules will be introduced to Parliament in July, passed over the next few weeks and made effective in November to make New Zealanders ‘feel safer.’
‘Safety is a Right’
Earlier today (June 23, 2024), he addressed a media conference at the Auckland District Police Headquarters in Ponsonby during which he promised to make ‘New Zealand a safer place,’ and that ‘crime had gone out of control over the past seven years,’ accusing the previous Labour government of incompetence.
Among those present at the Media conference were Police and Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell, Children’s Minister Karen Chhour, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and Oranga Tamariki Chief Executive Chappie Te Kani.
“All of us are deeply committed to and have an important role to play in restoring law and order in New Zealand. Our government wants all Kiwis to feel safe in their homes, businesses and communities. It should not matter where you live and what you do. Nobody should be afraid walking down Queen Street (in Auckland CBD) or go to work fearing there will be a ramraid and no town should close down its local school for a day because a bunch of gang members have rolled into the main street. I am sick of it and so are Kiwis,” he said.
Describing gangs as the ‘biggest peddlers of misery and crime in New Zealand,’ Mr Luxon said that gang membership has increased by 51% in the last five years.
“For too long, the gangs have felt that they are above the law, and those days are coming to an end. From November, the laws against gangs will be tougher and gang patches will be banned in public. The Police will also have the power to stop gang members congregating in public and the courts will have the authority to stop gang members from communicating. These laws will be passed in August and become operational in November,” he said.
Three Strikes Law returns
Mr Luxon said that the Three Strikes Law, repealed by the previous Labour government will also be revived as a part of new legislative measures.
“New Zealand is a society that comprises rights and responsibilities which make it fair and safe for everyone,” he said and added that while everyone making a mistake has the opportunity to turn around in life those persistently making those mistakes must face serious consequences.
His message was ‘punishment must meet crime,’ and that Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is ‘working on it.’
The Three Strike Law is in force in many parts of the world and simply means that the ‘concessions given’ by judges in their Sentencing Notes ‘disappear the third time.’
This law is usually mandatory and lengthy in the case of some offenders.
The ACT Party campaigned in favour of Three Strikes in the 2008 election, and the John Key government introduced the Sentencing and Parole Reform Act in 2010 which set out the country’s first Three Strikes Legislation.
The law listed 40 offences including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, sexual violation, abduction and aggravated robbery under the Three Strikes formula. That legislation meant that a first-time offender, at the time of Sentencing, would receive the ‘First Strike Warning.’
The Second and Final Warning is issued during the Second Qualifying Sentencing and sent to prison for a full sentence without a chance for parole.
Third-time offenders will automatically receive the maximum prison sentence without parole without parole unless the Court determines that such a verdict would be ‘manifestly unjust.’
The Labour government repealed the law in 2022 saying that there was no evidence that tougher Sentences reduced crime.
It said that the Three Strikes Law restricted a judge’s ability to consider circumstances and context when sentencing an offender and cited concerns that Maori were over-represented in those receiving a Strike.
More Police in public places
Mr Mitchell outlined the government’s plan to increase Police presence in main districts, saying that organised and serious crime had escalated in recent years.
“Our Police, especially frontline officers, do an incredible job but they find the situation extremely challenging. Budget 2024 provides additional funding to recruit 500 more Police Officers, train and place them in all the Districts,” he said.
As an immediate measure, from July 1, the Auckland CBD will receive 21 additional Police Officers, raising the complement to 51 by the end of the month.
Mr Mitchell said that the recruitment of additional Police will mean highly visible teams patrolling the main streets, shopping malls and transport hubs.
“Kiwis are utterly sick of the crime and antisocial behaviour in our biggest city. I frequently meet with the victims of crime and the message I hear is a consistent one – communities want to see more Police out and about. It is clear that Police have also heard that message,” he said.
Community Beats
Commissioner Coster announced the establishment of new Community Beat Teams in major cities and the launch of Operation Safer Streets in Auckland to target anti-social behaviour and crime in the CBD.
“Auckland will be the first to benefit from the additional investment in these teams, which will provide a more visible, reassuring and responsive policing presence on main streets, in shopping malls and at transport hubs,” he said.
Mr Coster said that the Community Beat Teams will be staffed by additional constabulary officers confirmed in Budget 2024.
“This is the start of a staged two-year roll out, which will see 63 additional staff deployed in new Community Beat Teams across Auckland’s three Policing Districts (21 in each), 17 in Wellington and 10 in Christchurch. We know communities want to see more Police, particularly in those areas experiencing challenges with anti-social behaviour and retail crime,” he said.
Mr Mitchell said that gangs will be hit hard by the new laws.
Military-Style Academies
Ms Chhour said that the government is setting up military-style academies for serious and persistent young offenders who are responsible for much of the retail crime.
She said that her Ministry is creating more tools to respond to the most serious and persistent young offenders.
“This includes the establishment of military-style academies and the creation of a new ‘Young Serious Offender’ designation. We intend to implement a pilot project for the academy from next month. It will have a component as well as a rehabilitative and trauma-informed care approach to help these young people turn their lives around and reduce their risk of reoffending,” she said.
Ms Chhour said that Oranga Tamariki will lead and deliver the Programmes, working with providers where they have appropriate capability and expertise and alongside other government departments in a multiagency approach to ensure that it is a well-rounded Programme,” she said.
