Why we’re bringing three strikes back

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Author: OPINION Carl BatesCarl Bates is MP for Whanganui
• Publication title: Whanganui Midweek

Even last week a constituent who owns a small business was telling me of the bouts of crime he has experienced, and how debilitating it has been for his staff and him

It has had an ongoing impact on employee’s willingness to work particular shifts.

Among a whole range of policies to put the rights of victims, instead of criminals, at the heart of our justice system was the restoration of the Three Strikes policy.

On Monday afternoon we announced that we would deliver on that commitment to enforce appropriate consequences on criminals. The coalition Government has made it clear that repeat serious violence or sexual offending is not acceptable in our society.

Everyone in New Zealand has the right to feel safe in their homes, businesses and communities and we will ensure that sentencing for repeat offending takes account of the harm caused to victims and their communities.

The new legislation will cover the same 40 serious violent and sexual offences as the former law, with strangling and suffocation offences added. However, it will only apply to sentences of more than 24 months imprisonment.

There will be a limited benefit for people who plead guilty...