Last month, the community bode farewell to Arun Kumar-a perfect husband, son, father and a law-abiding, tax-paying New Zealander of Indian origin! Arun was brutally murdered while he was going about doing his business, trying to make a living for himself and his family. While the so-called social policy experts are dissecting the causes that would have pushed the young accused persons to commit such a heinous crime, Arun's family are left to deal with this tragic, unnecessary loss. If and when the accused are sentenced, to a long sentence of imprisonment, the family and the community will continue to pay for the “rehabilitation” of the criminals. Approximately $80000 will be spent on the offenders per year by the tax-payer. Nothing for the victims. This situation needs to change and it needs to change now.
New Zealand First recognises that the rights of victims are paramount, and that the offender’s rights are subject to the rights of both the victim and the state.
Unemployment, poor parenting, inappropriate peer group pressure, and other socio-economic factors contribute markedly to our crime rate. We advocate a balanced policy prescription containing elements of prevention, apprehension, punishment, and rehabilitation. Frequently prison inmates come out worse than when they went in. This failure of rehabilitation is not acceptable.
New Zealand First will introduce a category of outcome sentences which put the onus on the criminal to show that he or she is ready for release. New Zealand First’s policies are tough, but fair and non-restrictive for law-abiding citizens.
New Zealand First will:
1. Put more police into local communities. Numbers are declining again so we would immediately step up recruiting and training.
2. Put extra police on the beat and more patrol cars on the road, day and night.
Sufficient support staff will be employed so frontline officers are not tied up with paperwork.
3. Ensure a clear focus on crime prevention and investigation, and a clear line between traffic enforcement and general duties policing.
4. Introduce legislation to ban all criminal gangs.
5. Overhaul current legislation relating to the sentencing of serious, violent offenders to provide greater protection for the public. If there is not genuinerehabilitation the offender will serve the full sentence.
6. An end to sole-charge police stations. Minimum double-manning of all remote and rural stations.
7. Full resourcing for police to enable them to serve our communities best.
8. Fast, easy access for police officers to all the tools and equipment required to do their jobs properly, including firearms as lawfully necessary.
9. Active engagement by police with our schools and communities to build trust, and to help prevent and solve crime.
10. Extend the range of sentencing options for violent young offenders including: ‘secure training order’ sentences involving supervised control and intensive rehabilitation; other secure and military-type training options and widening the range of offences for which young offenders may be automatically subject to adult processes e.g. attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, serious repeat offending.
11. Integrate emergency services into a single Ministry of Emergency Services.
Civil Defence, Police, Fire and Ambulance will share facilities, stations, radio communication facilities, vehicles and civilian support staff. Information will be shared amongst these services to better coordinate services.