Businesses will soon have additional powers to detain and arrest those stealing from them with the Government\u2019s Crimes Act overhaul scheduled to start its final reading this week, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe economic cost of retail crime in New Zealand is in the billions. Retailers and security guards face abuse and assault that no New Zealander should be subjected to. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Crimes Act Amendment Bill is another significant piece of the Government\u2019s efforts to restore law and order. It ensures criminals face stronger penalties for retail crime, attacking first responders, coward punches, and dealing in slaves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe promised to have this passed into law before the next election. We\u2019re delivering. This legislation will take effect within a week of this Bill passing into law.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Crimes Act Amendment Bill includes:<\/p>\n
New specific offences for assaulting first responders or front-line corrections workers, as committed to in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
\nThree new specific coward punch offences, as committed to in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
\nAdditional citizen\u2019s arrest powers.
\nA new shoplifting infringement regime, as committed to in the National\/New Zealand First coalition agreement.
\nStrengthening trafficking and people smuggling laws to stop criminals using loopholes to evade real consequences for crime.<\/p>\n
Changes in relation to citizens\u2019 arrest powers are:<\/p>\n
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).
\nRequiring that a person making an arrest contact Police and follow Police instructions.
\nClarifying that restraints can be used, when reasonable, when making an arrest.
\nChanging the defence of property provisions to the Crimes Act so it is clear that reasonable force may be used. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Businesses will soon have additional powers to detain a 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