News Column
Building a Safer New Zealand
We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and our communities. And people who have been victims of crime deserve to feel protected.
National is building a safer New Zealand. We’ve embarked on a comprehensive programme of reform to protect communities, prevent crime, and put victims first.
We have made great progress. We are staying tough on criminals, and keeping record numbers of Police on the beat.
We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and our communities. And people who have been victims of crime deserve to feel protected.
National is building a safer New Zealand. We’ve embarked on a comprehensive programme of reform to protect communities, prevent crime, and put victims first.
We have made great progress. We are staying tough on criminals, and keeping record numbers of Police on the beat.
Recently we’ve taken several further steps in law and order. We have announced progress on our first public private partnership at Wiri Prison, which will have an incentive programme to help reduce reoffending. And we’re upgrading several prisons to bring them into the 21st century and make them better suited for rehabilitation.
Last week we announced that the number of prisoners testing positive for drugs has reached a record low. The latest figures, for the eight months to end of February, show that only 4.3 per cent of prisoners tested positive after random drugs tests. This is a significant drop from 13 per cent in 2007/08.
Our investment in addiction treatment and prison security is paying off. Since 2008, we have doubled the number of prisoners able to attend specialist drug treatment units, and introduced new laws that increase search powers for Corrections officers and provide new offences relating to contraband.
To assist Police, and agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Customs, we have passed National’s search and surveillance bill through Parliament.
The act brings certainty, clarity and consistency to the messy, unclear, and out-dated search and surveillance laws. We now have a regime fit for today that achieves the right balance between the need for effective powers and tools for our enforcement officers, and protecting the rights of our citizens.
Finally, National’s changes to the Crimes Act came into effect to better protect the vulnerable in our community.
The new law makes it an offence to stay silent if you know a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of death, harm or sexual assault. It is no longer acceptable for a person, such as a family member, to claim they were not involved in the abuse of a child when they knew a child was at risk.
The changes also double the maximum penalty for cruelty to a child from five years to 10 years' imprisonment, and extend the penalties to cover vulnerable adults as well.
Some Bouquets
Recently I had the privilege of attending the TrustPower National Community Awards in my role as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to congratulate Rangitata constituents Trevor and Jane Hurley as joint supreme award winners for Trev’s BBQ and also the Denniston Heritage Trust, the co-winners.
Ashburton-based Trev’s BBQ provided an immediate and significant response to the devastation suffered in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake by feeding and supporting people in the most affected areas.
I also had the pleasure of speaking briefly at the opening of the Ashburton Relay for Life and would like to congratulate those who organised this wonderful event, and also all those who took part.
The result of hours of fundraising and hours walking was a stunning success. Over $200,000 was raised and this money will be put to good use in research to find cures for cancer and support for those suffering from it along with their families.
Last week we announced that the number of prisoners testing positive for drugs has reached a record low. The latest figures, for the eight months to end of February, show that only 4.3 per cent of prisoners tested positive after random drugs tests. This is a significant drop from 13 per cent in 2007/08.
Our investment in addiction treatment and prison security is paying off. Since 2008, we have doubled the number of prisoners able to attend specialist drug treatment units, and introduced new laws that increase search powers for Corrections officers and provide new offences relating to contraband.
To assist Police, and agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Customs, we have passed National’s search and surveillance bill through Parliament.
The act brings certainty, clarity and consistency to the messy, unclear, and out-dated search and surveillance laws. We now have a regime fit for today that achieves the right balance between the need for effective powers and tools for our enforcement officers, and protecting the rights of our citizens.
Finally, National’s changes to the Crimes Act came into effect to better protect the vulnerable in our community.
The new law makes it an offence to stay silent if you know a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of death, harm or sexual assault. It is no longer acceptable for a person, such as a family member, to claim they were not involved in the abuse of a child when they knew a child was at risk.
The changes also double the maximum penalty for cruelty to a child from five years to 10 years' imprisonment, and extend the penalties to cover vulnerable adults as well.
Some Bouquets
Recently I had the privilege of attending the TrustPower National Community Awards in my role as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to congratulate Rangitata constituents Trevor and Jane Hurley as joint supreme award winners for Trev’s BBQ and also the Denniston Heritage Trust, the co-winners.
Ashburton-based Trev’s BBQ provided an immediate and significant response to the devastation suffered in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake by feeding and supporting people in the most affected areas.
I also had the pleasure of speaking briefly at the opening of the Ashburton Relay for Life and would like to congratulate those who organised this wonderful event, and also all those who took part.
The result of hours of fundraising and hours walking was a stunning success. Over $200,000 was raised and this money will be put to good use in research to find cures for cancer and support for those suffering from it along with their families.
