Clean slate bill goes too far say MPs

Proposed legislation wiping minor convictions from people's records after 10 crime-free years has been criticised in Parliament as going too far.

MPs debated for the first time yesterday the Government's Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill.

If passed, it would mean that in limited circumstances criminal convictions which did not attract a custodial sentence would be concealed.

Both National and Act say they will oppose the legislation.

National's justice spokesman, Wayne Mapp, said the bill went too far. He estimated that four out of 10 people with multiple drink-driving convictions would "get the benefit" of a clean slate, as would those convicted but not jailed for possession of drugs such as heroin.

Dr Mapp and his Act counterpart, Stephen Franks, said it was wrong for the law to effectively tell a lie.

"Clean slate supporters mean well," Mr Franks said. "They talk of 'overcoming the past' and 'forgetting the criminal stigma', but what it really means is suppression of the truth. It removes the right of everyone outside the justice Establishment to decide whether and when they should forgive and forget for past misdemeanours".

A number of exemptions from the clean slate are intended.

Specified sexual offences will not be covered by the bill, regardless of the penalty imposed, because of the pattern of reoffending in that area.

Some jobs, such as those of teachers, childcare workers and police, would still require full disclosure of past offending.

People would still have to disclose convictions to law enforcement agencies undertaking investigations or prosecutions and in criminal or civil proceedings before the court or parole hearings.

And New Zealanders would still have to abide by other countries' disclosure requirements for border control and immigration.

Judges could specify at sentencing that the clean slate law should not apply. As well, records would still be available to law enforcement agencies undertaking investigations or prosecutions and in criminal or civil proceedings before the court or parole hearings.

- NZPA