Government changes promote public safety

Recently I've been chairing the Justice and Electoral Select Committee's hearings of submissions on the Victims of Crime Reform Bill in Parliament. People who have been victims of crime deserve to feel protected.

We've heard harrowing tales of some New Zealanders' experiences. They underline a widespread desire for a comprehensive programme of reform to protect communities, prevent crime, and put victims first. Staying tough on criminals and promoting public safety are priorities for this government.

Last month National's changes to the Crimes Act came into effect making 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, which have been widely endorsed at meetings I've attended in my electorate lately, 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.

We recently announced progress on our first public private partnership at Wiri Prison, which will have an incentive programme to help reduce reoffending. We're also 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 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 we have also 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 a new Search and Surveillance Act. It brings certainty, clarity and consistency to previously messy and outdated search and surveillance laws.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.

We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and our communities. National promised to build a safer New Zealand and we're delivering on that promise.

Happy Easter everyone. Please drive carefully and remember to observe the new give way rules.

- TIM MACINDOE, is the MP for Hamilton West