新西兰国会周四正式通过《刑事法修正案》（Crimes Act Amendment Bill）最终审议，一项备受关注的改革将赋予商家和普通公民更大的法律权限，以制止盗窃等犯罪行为。政府表示，此举旨在应对近年来不断上升的零售犯罪，并强化社会治安。

根据新法，零售商、保安人员以及其他公民，在符合法律规定的情况下，将可在一天中的任何时间介入制止《刑事法》所涵盖的犯罪行为，并可依法实施公民逮捕，而不再受现行法律对时间和部分罪名的限制。

司法部长保罗·戈德史密斯（Paul Goldsmith）表示，政府兑现了竞选承诺，希望通过强化法律工具，为零售商提供更有效的保护，同时提高违法成本，减少惯犯再次作案。

“零售业每天面对盗窃、辱骂甚至暴力攻击，这种情况不应成为新西兰社会的常态。”他说，“零售犯罪每年造成数十亿纽元的经济损失，政府必须采取更有力的措施。”

公民逮捕权范围进一步扩大

新法对《刑事法》中有关公民逮捕权的规定进行了多项调整。

此前，部分轻微盗窃案件——例如涉案金额低于1000纽元的盗窃——只有在晚上9时至次日早上6时之间，公民才可以依法实施逮捕。

修法后，这一时间限制被取消，公民可在任何时间介入制止《刑事法》所规定的犯罪行为。

与此同时，法律也明确规定，实施公民逮捕后，相关人员必须立即联系警方，并按照警方指示处理后续程序。

新法还进一步明确，在合理且必要的情况下，实施逮捕者可以使用适当约束措施，并重申在保护人身安全和财产安全时，可以使用合理武力，但不得超过法律允许的范围。

修法范围不仅涉及零售犯罪

此次修法内容远不止扩大公民逮捕权。

法案还新增多项刑事罪名，包括：

• 针对急救人员及一线惩教工作人员实施袭击的专门罪名；
• 三项针对“突然重拳袭击”（俗称 Coward Punch）的新罪名，以回应近年来因单拳袭击造成死亡或严重脑损伤的社会关注；
• 建立新的商店盗窃行政处罚制度，提高对轻微盗窃行为的执法效率；
• 收紧人口贩运及偷运人口相关法律，堵塞现行法律漏洞，防止犯罪集团逃避法律责任。

政府表示，上述改革均属于恢复社会治安计划的重要组成部分，大部分条文将在未来一周内正式生效。

零售犯罪持续成为社会焦点

近年来，新西兰多个城市持续出现针对零售商店的盗窃、抢劫及暴力事件，不少商家反映，惯犯屡次作案而处罚有限，导致经营成本不断上升，也使员工的人身安全受到威胁。

零售行业长期呼吁政府赋予商家更明确的法律保障，以便在警方赶到之前能够依法制止犯罪行为。

不过，一些法律界人士及人权组织此前曾提醒，扩大公民逮捕权虽然有助于打击犯罪，但也可能增加执法边界模糊、误判以及不必要的人身冲突风险。

他们认为，未来法律实施过程中，如何界定“合理武力”“必要约束”以及普通公民的法律责任，将成为司法实践中的重要议题。

在治安与公民权利之间寻求平衡

此次修法体现了现任政府更加注重恢复社会治安的政策取向，也反映出新西兰近年来在犯罪治理方面出现的立法变化。

随着法律正式生效，零售商、保安人员及普通民众将拥有比过去更大的介入权限；与此同时，警方、法院以及社会各界也将持续关注，新制度能否在提升公共安全的同时，避免权力被滥用，并在打击犯罪与保障公民权利之间维持适当平衡。

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2025/223/en/latest/pdf-download

Enhanced citizens’ arrest powers pass into law

Businesses are about to have enhanced powers to detain and arrest those stealing from them with the Crimes Act Amendment Bill passing its final reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“Our government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order, and that means ensuring retailers are being effectively protected, are empowered to stop offending, and that offenders are caught and deterred from doing it again.

“Retailers and security guards face abuse and assault that no New Zealander should be subjected to, and we know the economic cost of retail crime is in the billions.

“The Crimes Act Amendment Bill ensures criminals face stronger penalties for retail crime, attacking first responders, coward punches, and dealing in slaves. This is another significant piece of work as part of the Government’s effort to restore law and order.

“Where others may flee, first responders and front-line corrections workers run towards danger to help those who need urgent assistance. Assaulting them puts multiple lives at risk, so there must be greater consequences for these terrible acts of violence.

“We know how dangerous coward punches are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences. That changes with this legislation.

“We promised to have this passed into law before the election. We’re delivering. The majority of this legislation will take effect within a week.”

The Crimes Amendment Bill includes:

New specific offences for assaulting first responders or front-line corrections workers, as committed to in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
Three new specific coward punch offences, as committed to in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
Additional citizen’s arrest powers.
A new shoplifting infringement regime, as committed to in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement.
Strengthening trafficking and people smuggling laws to stop criminals using loopholes to evade real consequences for crime.

Changes in relation to citizens’ arrest powers are:

Amending the Crimes Act so that citizens can intervene to stop any Crimes Act offence at any time of the day. (Currently some – including theft under $1000 – apply only between 9PM and 6AM).
Requiring that a person making an arrest contact Police and follow Police instructions.
Clarifying that restraints can be used, when reasonable, when making an arrest. 
Changing the defence of property provisions to the Crimes Act so it is clear that reasonable force may be used.