Five new policies for a tougher, smarter response to crime

“Being tough on crime is not the opposite of being smart on crime. It is smart to give communities tools to stand up for themselves, to stop repeat offenders creating more victims, and to target behaviour that can escalate into more serious offending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“New Zealanders have been told for too long that the compassionate thing is do is to make excuses for criminals. ACT says the compassionate thing is to protect the person whose house has been burgled, whose shop has been trashed, whose farm has been targeted, or whose partner is using a pet to keep them trapped.”

ACT has now announced five crime policies in recent weeks:

• Public safety: ACT will give properly trained and licensed security professionals real powers with clear limits. Police cannot be everywhere at once. Businesses, transport operators, and communities need practical tools to deal with threatening or destructive behaviour before it escalates.

• Three strikes for burglary: ACT’s three strikes for burglary policy targets repeat burglars. Not someone who made one stupid mistake, but people who keep choosing to break into homes and businesses after repeated chances.

• Deporting serious offenders: ACT will make Resident Visa holders convicted of serious crimes carrying maximum sentences of 10 years or more liable for deportation, no matter how long they have been in New Zealand.

• Cracking down on rural crime: ACT’s rural crime policy responds to the fact that 67 per cent of farmers have experienced crime, up from 41 per cent in 2016. ACT will fund 100,000 extra rural patrol hours a year, extend Text 111 access where mobile coverage is unreliable, and increase penalties for poachers and livestock rustlers.

• Family violence and animal abuse: ACT’s will create a new offence for coercion by animal abuse, recognising the ugly reality that abusers can use pets to control people and keep them in dangerous relationships.

“These are practical ways to stop harm before it escalates,” says Mr Seymour.

“The previous Government put offenders first. ACT is proud of what we have achieved in government to put victims first, but we need to go further in restoring consequences and giving communities the tools to protect themselves.

“New Zealand can’t reach its potential while people are afraid in their homes, businesses, and communities.”