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Archived Press Releases 2006 11th June 2006

Bail Act needs overhaul – McVicar

(11th June 2006)

Violent offenders, repeat offenders and sex offenders will not be eligible for bail if the Sensible Sentencing Trust gets its way.

Following a number of violent attacks by offenders on bail for previous violent assaults the Trust is to launch a campaign for a major overhaul of the Bail Act, saying that it is no longer acceptable that New Zealanders are being failed by bad legislation and bad decisions by some Judges.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said that it was bad enough when an innocent member of the community is attacked by a criminal, but when that attack was made possible because a Judge failed to listen to police warnings it was unforgivable.

"Some Judges are granting bail even when the offender has a list of previous offences as long as your arm, and even when the police stringently oppose bail."

"These bad decisions by a minority of Judges are letting the team down; if "bad" Judges can not be trusted to do their job and protect the public, then legislation will need to be changed to ensure the community is protected."

"The police do not oppose bail lightly, and when they do the public have a right to expect that Judges will listen. It is totally unacceptable that innocent people are being put at risk by bad judicial decisions."

McVicar said he had approached Phil Goff as Minister of Justice last year without any success, and the Trust had now decided to lobby all political parties with the intention of getting the support of opposition parties to force a law change.

The Trust hopes to enlist the support of Hawke’s Bay MP’s Chris Tremaine and Craig Foss after a number of high-profile offences in that province by offenders on bail, including the unprovoked attack last year that resulted in the death of an Australian shearer.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.