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Archived Press Releases 2004 3rd June 2004

Political arrogance blamed for street violence

(3rd June 2004)

The death of Australian man Mathew Larkin is a tragedy that should never have happened and the blame is being laid fairly and squarely on government arrogance.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is blaming the recent spate of violence in Hastings on legislation that is allowing violent criminals to be either freed on bail, receive a community based sentence or apply for home detention when convicted.

The Trust national spokesman said that three pieces of legislation passed by this government need an urgent overhaul, the Bail Act and the Sentencing and Parole Acts are complete and utter disasters that our communities will continue to pay the price for, over many years to come.

Legislation passed in 2001 and 2002 means that violent criminals are being released on bail, even when the police oppose it, or being recycled through the revolving doors of our Criminal justice system.

Mr McVicar said the government had conned the public into believing that they were getting tough on crime when in fact the opposite is happening. The softly-softly home detention and community-based sentences are a social disaster with catastrophic consequences for New Zealand.

While all past and present administrations must equally share the blame, Mr McVicar said the buck must stop with this government for continuing to promote philosophies and introduce legislation and failed social polices of a bygone era.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is calling on the Minister of Justice and the Labour Government to act with urgency to introduce new legislation in three key areas:

1. Bail must not be available for violent or sexual offenders.
2. Mandatory minimum sentences for all violent or sexual offences, and all sentences to be served cumulatively.
3. Parole to be abolished for all violent and sexual offences.

The Napier City Council had recently written to the Minister of Justice expressing their concern about the recycling of violent criminals, we hope Hastings will now do the same said Mr McVicar.

If it wasn’t for pathetic laws that are allowing these violent criminals to commit mayhem on our streets Mathew Larkin and many more like him would be alive today.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.