5. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
What is she doing about a rate of increase in violent crime that now places violent crime at the highest level ever in this country’s history?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice) Link to this
The Government is undertaking a wide range of activities to address violence in our society. Violence can be divided into two categories: domestic violence and non-domestic violence. Action has been taken to address both, but there is a current emphasis on domestic violence. That is because the increase in violence was almost entirely driven by the increase in recorded domestic violence, which was 31.5 percent compared with the increase in non-domestic violence of 1.4 percent.
Can she confirm that the primary question was the same one put by the Hon Phil Goff in this House on 11 October 1994, when violent offences numbered 44,580, and can she confirm also that by 1999 this figure had dropped by 11 percent, only to rise under Labour by another 43.6 percent to 56,983 offences in 2007, which was actually the “highest level ever” in this country’s history?
It is fair to say that violence in New Zealand has been rising over many years; in fact, violence has been rising in most countries over many years. But I say to the member that, in the last decade, the highest number for the most violent crime, which is murder, occurred in 1997.
How can she claim that Labour is doing something about violent crime, when statistics released today from her ministry show that since 1999 the average length of prison sentences for violent offences has fallen by 8.5 percent, including 11 percent shorter sentences for indecent assault, 17.5 percent shorter sentences for aggravated robbery, 7.5 percent shorter sentences for assault by a male on a female, and 17.6 percent shorter sentences for assault on a child?
The decision on the length of a sentence—as that member, as a former lawyer, well knows—is not in the hands of the Government. In fact, it is made by the sentencing judge at the time, who takes into account all circumstances. But I can assure the member that in relation to violence in New Zealand—particularly as the member is more interested in non-domestic violence than he is in domestic violence; he does not seem to think that domestic violence is so important—we have increased the number—
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Minister is better than that. She will know that I will take offence at any statement that might be taken to mean that I view domestic violence as somehow less serious than any other form of violence.
Madam SPEAKERThe reason why I highlight domestic violence is that the majority of the increase in the statistics of violence in New Zealand has been related to domestic violence. It is a serious issue for New Zealanders. In the last decade—for which the member was quoting figures and trying to highlight that somehow the Government is responsible for all this—there has been over a doubling of the number of reported cases of domestic violence, and there has also been over a doubling of prosecutions against domestic violence. So let us recognise that the issue has been taken seriously in New Zealand, that there is prosecution, and that there is certainly a concentration on it by many agencies. To say that nothing is happening in relation to addressing violence is quite untrue, and I say to the member that many things are being done by this Government to address violence, both domestic and non-domestic.
Hon Phil GoffCan the Minister confirm that, quite contrary to what Mr Power has just said, the 2002 Sentencing Act considerably increased sentences for the worst and most violent criminals, including broadening the scope of preventive detention—indefinite detention—putting a minimum sentence of 17 years for aggravated murder, and allowing sentences of up to 30 years in the worst cases?
Yes, I can confirm that. And I can confirm that the Minister of Justice then was the member who asked the question, who followed a Minister who had not taken those issues seriously and had not changed the sentencing of our most violent criminals.
Is she surprised by the vicious and unprovoked attack on six tourists on the streets of central Christchurch, which resulted in knife wounds and broken bones, when since 1999 that area has experienced a 23 percent increase in intimidation and threats, a 26 percent increase in grievous assaults, and a 43 percent increase in serious assaults?
I am not surprised; I am horrified at those sorts of attacks on tourists and New Zealanders in the streets of our country. Among the things we have to face up to in this country is some of the causes of street violence. It has been pointed out in the latest crime statistics that alcohol was at the basis of most crimes in New Zealand. It is an issue that this Parliament needs to reconsider, in my view, at some time in the future. Certainly, as one who did not vote to lower the drinking age, I think that at some stage we will have to face up to the fact that there is a problem in this country in relation to alcohol and violence in our homes and on the streets.
Gerry BrownleeHow bad have things become when the Mayor of Christchurch was able to say at the start of this year that “Walking around the streets after midnight is not something I’d recommend to people. It’s crazy out there.”, after an analysis of crime statistics per head of population showed that Christchurch central has the country’s highest rates for violent crimes, including all types of assault, sexual attacks, burglary, car theft, and property damage; and what is she doing to ensure that her Government does something about helping the people who have to live in that zone?
The Government has taken quite a number of measures, including increasing the number of police staff we have on the streets, and working with local authorities in terms of what they can do in relation to liquor bans and stopping alcohol from being sold at all hours of the day and night. But the Government works in partnership on these issues, because everybody knows that not one Minister, or one Government, or one Parliament on its own will address the issue of violence in our homes or on our streets. It becomes a joint problem for all of us to work on.
If the Minister genuinely believes what she has just said, why are 24-hour alcohol sales available from so many outlets in Christchurch, and why has her Government granted 363 off-licences in Christchurch—more than twice the number available in Wellington—and will she advance legislation around conditions of licence that might give some relief to city councils and residents living in these difficult parts of New Zealand?
I say to the member that if he were prepared to help me with that, and if the Opposition were prepared to work with the Government on that, I am certain that we could tackle the issue of outlets, sale, and availability of alcohol. I have not seen any great desire for that sort of assistance to be given to the Government to date, but if there is a view in this House that we ought to be doing something about outlets—and Christchurch does have a particular problem, but it is not on its own—then I think this Parliament ought to look at doing that.
Nicky WagnerWhat does the Minister say to the scores of concerned citizens who have called my office in the last week, worried about the recent spate of violence in Christchurch; citizens who include parents who have forbidden kids to use their local park or to walk on the streets, people working in dairies who are worried about being robbed, and elderly women who are too frightened to turn on the lights in their houses in case they attract offenders?
I would tell that member to say to her constituents that they should not get things out of proportion or be scared into believing that Christchurch is not a safe place to live in. By any comparison internationally, it certainly is. They can take assurance from the fact that this Government, along with New Zealand First in terms of our agreement, has recruited and is recruiting many more additional police to be on our streets. Christchurch is getting its fair share of that police resource, including some of the 250 community constables with high visibility—frontline police, I say, whereas some in the National Party think community constables do not constitute frontline police. That is part of what this Government has been providing.
Ron MarkWhat sort of message is sent to young, violent thugs when a 15-year-old who has taken part in a beating of a man to the point where the police thought they had a body on their hands, and who did the majority of the damage to the victim by repeatedly kicking and stomping on the victim’s head, is not sent by the Youth Court judge to the District Court for sentencing, as is provided for under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act, because in the judge’s words it “was his 15th birthday when the event was going down.”, which effectively resulted in his being given a far more lenient sentence in the Youth Court, presumably as a birthday present?
Although the member may find that obnoxious, I am not prepared to criticise a decision of a Youth Court judge. Certainly, it is not my role to do that, and I was not there to hear the evidence, or what was given, in terms of that case. I believe that in the main our judges do a very good job, and we are well served by the judiciary in New Zealand.
Has the Minister read the sentencing notes of one of the two accomplices of the aforesaid young person, in which the Youth Court judge states that most of the damage was inflicted by the 15-year-old, and can the Minister explain to the House why, after making repeated requests for the sentencing notes of the Youth Court judge, New Zealand First has been unable to get those notes, and after requests to Judge Becroft, the Principal Youth Court Judge, we have still not received those notes after at least a year; can the Minister offer a comment as to how it serves the best interests of the youth justice system to have the youth justice system hiding behind the secrecy laws?
I am sorry, but the member has been warned before not to give speeches in the guise of questions. I would ask that in future the member Mr Mark ask his question succinctly.
No, I cannot give the member an answer, mainly because of the principle of judicial independence in New Zealand, whereby I cannot direct a judge to provide that member with sentencing notes—or with anything else, for that matter. I think we really do need to uphold that judicial independence, so that we do not have politicians telling judges what to do, or, for that matter, politicians telling the police what to do. I think that is an important constitutional principle in New Zealand, and I am sure that the member understands that only too well.
I seek leave to table the sentencing notes of one Dylan Raymond Shannon Corbin in the District Court in Christchurch.
I seek leave to table a letter from my office to the registrar of the Youth Court, seeking the sentencing notes of that 15-year-old.
And I seek leave to table a further letter to Judge Becroft, pointing out that he totally missed the point.