Law and Order

You deserve to be safe in your community. You shouldn’t have to worry that gang members will force you off the road as you drive across town, or feel unsafe walking home after dark.

Gang numbers have skyrocketed after four years of Labour’s “kindness”. They’ve taken over the streets. LA-style shootings are now a regular occurrence. Violent gun crime is up 47 per cent. Youth crime is spiralling out of control with ram raids and dairies being robbed every other day.

Victims should be at the centre of the justice system. We shouldn’t be cuddling the criminals who have offended against them.

We need a Government that takes responsibility for what’s happening on its watch. There need to be swift and serious consequences for offending in our communities. New Zealanders deserve safer communities.

Gang Control Orders

ACT will introduce a new policy of Gang Control Orders to crack down on gang members and minimise the risk posed to the public. Gang Control Orders would allow the Police to apply to the Courts for an injunction against an individual on the National Gang List. The injunction order could then be used to prohibit bad behaviours including being in a particular location or associating with particular people. It could also be used to require positive actions, like attending rehabilitation.

Hit gangs where it hurts

ACT will increase the power of Police to seize the assets of gang members found with illegal firearms. Gangs use unlawful firearms as part of the protection and enforcement of their operations, and the use is directly linked to illicit financial gains. This is a tool to hit the gangs where it hurts, their wallets.

Tax law applies to everyone, even gang members

ACT will use Inland Revenue’s powers to investigate gang members’ income and tax paid. In addition to this, ACT would set performance expectations for the Gang Intelligence Centre, including agency contribution to the Centre as well as reporting on how different agencies are using the information in their mandated activities. This is to ensure government agencies can utilise this rich source of information when performing their duties.

Youth infringement notices

ACT will introduce an infringement notice offence for shoplifting, resulting in instant, practical punishments such as fines and community service to ensure the shoplifter takes responsibility for their offending. Punishments can include fines, as well as performing community services such as picking up litter, cleaning graffiti or volunteering at a community group. This would mean instant practical penalties connected to the crime. If they’re caught shoplifting on a Friday, they could be cleaning graffiti that Saturday morning.

Ankle bracelets for serious youth offenders

ACT will introduce ankle bracelets for serious youth offenders. Ankle bracelets are non-intrusive and allow the police to know where the offender is at all times. Ram raids are being carried out by the same, hardened group of young people who face no consequences. They’re too young for prison, they’re known to escape from youth justice facilities, or are sent home to their families where they have a lack of guidance and discipline.

Review the sentencing for electronic monitoring

ACT will review the use of electronic monitoring sentencing for violent offenders and abolish the prison population reduction target. The goal of corrections is not to reduce the number of people in prison, it is to keep the rest of us safe.

Ensure victims of crime receive their reparations

ACT would make it the responsibility of the Crown to pay reparations to victims immediately, and to recover those costs from the offender. Victims should not have to bear the costs and risks of late or non-payments. To contribute towards the costs of the system, ACT would redirect revenue currently collected from the Proceeds of Crime Fund.

Three Strikes

Three Strikes was an ACT idea introduced in 2010 to send a signal to violent offenders that New Zealanders won’t tolerate repeated violent and sexual offending. There were no petty criminals being charged under the law, it applied to the worst of the worst and made our communities safer. Labour has been single-minded in their drive to get rid of it though, along the way they’ve forgotten about the victims of serious crime. Thankfully, Kiwis won’t have to wait long for this law to be back in place. ACT is committed to reinstating Three Strikes as part of our plan for the first 100 days of Government.

Three Strikes for Burglary

ACT will also introduce a separate Three Strikes regime for burglary offences. Criminals who commit three burglary offences would face a minimum three-year prison sentence with no parole. ACT’s policy will make sure criminals pay the price for violating that

Minimum literacy standards for parole

ACT will require individuals to complete skills or rehabilitation programmes prior to being considered for parole. By making rehabilitation or skills programmes compulsory for parole, the onus is on prisons to provide that service at the scale required. Prisoners without the ability to read well enough to get a drivers licence would not be eligible for parole.

Politics out of Policing

ACT will ensure there are always enough Police on the beat instead of recruitment being a political football. For too long, Police have been subject to a political auction as major parties bid for new money in the lead up to elections. Policing isn’t about politics; it’s about keeping New Zealanders safe. That’s why ACT is announcing a policy to automatically adjust police staffing budgets in line with population increases.