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Archived Press Releases 2004 26th May 2004

Pathetic legislation blamed for violent attack

(26th May 2004)

Pathetic sentences and soft legislation are responsible for the violent attack that has left an Australian man fighting for his life after a vicious attack in Hastings, according to the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

"The government has talked about getting tough on crime, but in reality the opposite is happening, the Government is pushing the buttons of the revolving door of our Criminal Justice system," said the Trust National spokesman.

Mr McVicar said, "Government is not only allowing this violence to continue, but actively promoting it by introducing legislation that virtually orders Judges and Parole Boards to release violent offenders, rehabilitated or not".

The "safety of the community" is meant to be of paramount consideration, but current legislation makes a mockery of this. A judge-given sentence is a joke; there is no such thing now.

New Zealand has a huge reservoir of apprentice criminals being recycled through our criminal justice system; rehabilitation is a figment of the imagination under current legislation, Mr McVicar said.

"We see it time and time again, violent offenders like the coward who attacked the taxi driver in a brutal, premeditated assault - yet legislation virtually dictates that the Parole Board must let this creep out on home detention after serving only 6 months of a 4 year sentence".

Young thugs who are committing these violent unprovoked attacks need to be taught a lesson. The Sensible Sentencing Trust will be doing everything in its power to ensure the cowards who committed this attack in Hastings are made an example of, he said.

It is our intention to follow this case very carefully and demand that an appropriate deterrent sentence be given. The message must be that the community will not tolerate this violent behaviour any longer, said Mr McVicar.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.