Building a safer NZ through reducing crime

We all should feel safer in our homes and communities. People who have been victims of crime deserve to feel protected.

National is building a safer New Zealand, and has embarked on a comprehensive programme of reform to protect communities, prevent crime, and put victims first. We're making great progress.

Crime statistics just released show crime is at a 15-year low, down nearly 5 per cent on last year. The offender levy imposed on all those convicted of a crime has brought in far more money than anticipated, with $13 million being put into victim funds and programmes.

We're keeping record numbers of police on the beat. We have been targeting recidivists, and high crime areas, and dealing with those we catch in a smart way, to address their motivation to offend. This is the only way to make gains in the longer term.

We have also 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.

At the same time, we are closing a number of older prisons, such as the New Plymouth prison, New Zealand's oldest. There will be job losses and family may have to travel further to visit prisoners, but these changes will improve safety and services, which all helps with the primary goal - a safer New Zealand.

Last week, to assist police and agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Customs, we passed National's search and surveillance bill through Parliament. The act brings certainty, clarity and consistency to the messy, unclear, and outdated search and surveillance laws.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.

Finally, last month 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. This is another step forward in trying to keep our kids safe.

It is an indictment on our country that a child is murdered every month by someone who is supposed to love and care for them. We can all recall names of murdered toddlers, kids like Karl Perigo-Check of Wanganui, who was murdered in 2009 by his mother's boyfriend. It has to stop.

National promised to build a safer New Zealand. We're delivering on that promise.