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Archived Press Releases 2005 1st June 2005

Victims’ Rights Ignored

(1st June 2005)

In the worst example of Victims Rights abuse in modern day history the Government and the Greens have chosen to ignore Victims pleas and ridicule democracy with the introduction of the most draconian piece of legislation this Country has seen for a long time.

5-5-5 a Black Day for Victims’ Rights

Most New Zealanders consider 13 to be an unlucky number, but it was actually the number 5 that turned out to be unlucky for Victims as the Government chose to ignore their pleas in an absolute atrocious and blatant abuse of New Zealand’s so called democratic system.

The 5th day of the 5th month of the 5th year of this century turned out to be a black day for Victims Rights in this Country. The Prisoners and Victims Claims Bill was the Governments pathetic attempt to pacify the public outrage at compensation being awarded to prisoners for some facetious abuse of their “Human Rights”.

What this legislation means is that prisoners will continue clogging up our Courts and continue being paid thousands of dollars of tax payer’s money. Watch the legal aid gravy train lawyers milk every dollar possible out of this legislation.

Once again Criminals' Rights take precedence over Victims’ Rights

While the Bill allows victims of the prisoner to take legal action and claim any windfalls the prisoner may be awarded, in reality the stress and fear of retaliation will prevent victims doing so.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust had organized a wide range of Victims to travel to Parliament and present submissions, these courageous people were unanimous that none of them wanted any of the criminals contaminated money, all they requested was an assurance that;

1. Government would ensure Prisoners would not gain any financial benefit for alleged abuse while in Prison.
2. That Government would ensure prison policy be updated to reduce the likelihood of staff and / or inmate abuse, and the existing Court system be used for any breaches of those rules.

This was a simple request and a common sense solution to a self inflicted problem!

The willy-nilly signing of various warm fuzzy UN treaties has encouraged criminal friendly Judges to make awards to prisoners under so-called breaches of human rights laws.

New Zealand is a sovereign Nation; these treaties are not binding on this Country!!

The prisoners are laughing all the way to the bank.

It took an enormous amount of courage for victims including Tai Hobson to appear before Parliament; to now be told that the “human rights” of the criminal outweighs the rights of the Victim is hugely insulting and a travesty of justice.

The question must be asked, “Whose side is the Government really on, Victims or criminals?”

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.