In a major embarrassment, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today the decision to take off the decision to repeal three strikes law from cabinet consideration.
The decision to repeal three strikes law – introduced by the previous National government in 2010, which allows a serious criminal offender to be sentenced to the maximum jail time without parole after three warnings – has been high on Labour Party’s agenda for comprehensive reform in country’s criminal justice system.
Mr Little had been expected to bring the matter before Cabinet on Monday morning, but instead called a media conference to say that would not happen.
Mr Little told the media that New Zealand First party was not ready to support the repeal of three strikes law.
National Party was quick to seize the opportunity to criticise the government on its flip-flop on an issue, which has undoubtedly kept the public opinion divided like no other issue in the recent years.
National Party Leader Simon Bridges said the announcement was an “embarrassing back down” and points towards cracks in the coalition government.
“Government’s approach to law and order has been reckless. It has promised to cut the prison population by a third because it doesn’t want to build Waikeria Prison but it has no plan aside from making it harder to send offenders to prison and making it easier for those already there to get out,” Mr Bridges said.
'Say No To Crime' campaign in Papakura
Lately, three strikes law has come under severe scrutiny with experts on criminal justice system doubting the efficacy of the law in either deterring the offenders or adding any value in the reform of the offenders undergoing punishment under the law.
However, the community, especially those more likely to be vulnerable from incidents of aggravated assaults and robberies, especially those working in dairies and small businesses who have witnessed a gradual increase in the number of attacks and nature of violence perpetrated upon them, have been relatively less confident about the proposed repealing of three strikes law.
Daljit Sidhu, owner-operator of Thirsty Liquor Edinburg, Papakura, welcomed the decision of not repealing three strikes law and emphasised the law makes sense.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Mr Sidhu said “The provision of three warnings gives ample opportunity to serious offenders to either reform themselves or face consequences of their actions.
“It also gives a lot of hope to retailers and small business owners who are at the forefront of facing aggravated assaults and attacks from repeat offenders that there is a law to protect them.
“The idea to repeal the law and not replace it with something similar to safeguard community would not have helped.”
Mr Sidhu, along with several other retailers of Papakura had formed a social media group earlier this year had been campaigning directly to the local community with a message “Say no to crime,” by organising sausage sizzle events in South Auckland.
Similarly, another retailer from Manurewa, South Auckland, who only wants to be known as Mr Narula told the Indian Weekender that he was not confident about the government’s move to repeal three strikes law.
“The decision to repeal this law would have sent a wrong signal to those who indulge in criminal activities and refuse to take responsibility for their actions.
“It would have also sent the wrong signal to retailers who already struggle to respond to low-level offending and aggravated assaults within the scope of the current justice system,” Mr Narula said.
Sunny Kaushal, the founder president of Crime Prevent Group – a community group formed last year against the rising crime and aggravated assaults on small businesses welcomed the move.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender Mr Kaushal, said "A number of small business owners and the victims of the aggravated robberies over the past year are seriously concerned on the lenient approach being adopted by the Government to deal with rising crime.
“The focus must be on to create a strong deterrent factor that reduces the offending rather than releasing prisoners.
“Repealing the Three Strikes Law without a consultation with the wider community and with no alternative plan in place may be a wrong step in the direction. If any existing law can save a few lives, why you would repeal it? Common sense must prevail"
‘Not repealing three strikes law is the right thing to do’: Kanwaljit Bakshi
Kiwi-Indian MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has expressed satisfaction on Labour government’s latest decision of not repealing three strikes law.
Mr Bakshi was at seniors and National party volunteers meeting, in Papatoetoe, when the Indian Weekender spoke to him about the government’s decision to withdraw the matter from cabinet discussion.
“It’s an excellent outcome of the continuous pressure built by National Party Leader Simon Bridges on the government.
“This was a very unacceptable move by the Labour government to repeal three strikes law.
“It sent a message that the Labour was soft on crime.
“We will continue to keep the government in pressure to hold them to account for community safety and law and order,” Mr Bakshi said.
Prime Minister continues to bat for comprehensive criminal justice reforms
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refusing to be bogged down by the so-called embarrassment on three strikes law has indicated government’s resolve to bring upon a comprehensive reform in the criminal justice system.
“It was agreed that the current system of locking up "low-level" criminals" was not working,” Ms Ardern told media in a post-cabinet briefing.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Michael Wood, Under-Secretary to the Minister for Ethnic Communities said, “The coalition government is committed to improving community safety. That’s why we’re investing in 1800 more police officers and held the recent community safety Ministerial Forum with ethnic community leaders.
“To make major policy changes, we require agreement between the three government parties and that wasn’t the case with the three strikes law.
“As such, we’ll be continuing discussions on the broad range of options to make sure that our criminal justice system is keeping our whole society as safe as possible.
“The current system clearly isn’t sufficient and change is required.”