crime

Garrett convicted for assault

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 8:33 pm, September 13th, 2010 - 40 comments

It seems Act MP and wannabe tough guy David Garrett has a conviction for assault.

I guess you don’t have to dig too far beneath the skin of these Sensible Sentencing Trust types to find their inner thug.

Search and Survey Our Loss of Human Rights

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 6:49 am, August 30th, 2010 - 38 comments

Strip searched by the dog-control officer, your home computer hacked by the Pork Board and the Commerce Commission putting 24-hour cameras in your bedroom. It’ll all be fine once the new Search and Surveillance Bill goes through. Oh, and you lose your right to silence. And the need for a warrant is reduced. And…

Key slippery on crime

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 11:07 am, August 26th, 2010 - 22 comments

Yesterday, Key was boasting that his goverment had brought down robberies and burglaries in Manukau. But it’s just more numbers games. In reality, the crime rate in Counties Manukau rose 6.9% in 2009. That’s twice the already awful 3.5% nationwide increase. I’m not against the government saying it has brought down crime. I just wish that it was true.

Crime and punishment

Written By: r0b - Date published: 9:40 am, August 23rd, 2010 - 25 comments

White collar crime is on the increase in NZ. The government talks tough and postures about crime in its other forms, how will it respond to white collar crime?

SAS collecting Afghanis for torture

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:50 am, August 16th, 2010 - 12 comments

Wayne Mapp has confirmed that the SAS has been involved in handing prisoners over to the NDS – a Afghan government body that tortures prisoners. Mapp indicated he didn’t give a damn what happens to the prisoners, calling them an “Afghan responsibility”. Sorry, Mapp, but you’ve got to take responsibility. Handing someone over to people you can reasonably expect will torture them is illegal.

Corrections boss not sure about private prisons

Written By: Dancr - Date published: 4:42 pm, August 13th, 2010 - 17 comments

We’ve already seen criticism of the move by National to introduce private prisons (eg. NZ Herald editorial). Now the soon-to-depart prison boss, Barry Matthews has indicated that he too has his doubts.

Key govt turn backs on police sex victims

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 5:38 am, August 11th, 2010 - 44 comments

It just gets worse: “The Government has rejected a secret forum’s recommendation that 10 women who alleged sexual misconduct by police officers get reparation.” Sadly, I think this is just the Nats being cheap and unwilling to face their responsibilities. They don’t care about the victims of police abuse, they care about saving a few dollars to pay for tax cuts.

Kiwis back smoking ban

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 10:50 am, August 4th, 2010 - 62 comments

A survey by ASH backs up one by UMR back in May showing that 60% of Kiwis back an end to commercial tobacco sales by 2020. I’m surprised by how strong the public mood for a ban is and not quite sure whether I agree.

Gutless backdown will cost money and lives

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 9:27 am, July 27th, 2010 - 63 comments

So, National has failed to act on drink driving. The Director of the National Addiction Centre calls it “scandalous”. While recidivist and youth drink drivers will, from early next year, be permitted to drive only if they have consumed no alcohol, the rest of the population will be able to continue to drive as intoxicated, […]

NZ Herald tells Collins to reset compass on private prison

Written By: Dancr - Date published: 11:51 am, July 14th, 2010 - 29 comments

The NZ Herald editorial criticising National’s pursuit of a private prison in Auckland should make Judith Collins and her cabinet colleagues sit up and rethink.

Offenders’ Levy fails

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 8:30 am, June 30th, 2010 - 5 comments

Judith “Crushless” Collins always has plenty of bluster but behind it all she has done precious little. 18 months after her spin doctors gave the media her moniker, Collins has yet to have a single car crushed (which is a stupid and wasteful policy any way). Her Offenders’ levy is another flop – it’s only going to raise 40% of the money promised and most of that will be spent collecting it.

Smoking in prisons

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 9:17 pm, June 28th, 2010 - 63 comments

I’m supportive of the government’s move to end smoking in prisons. I think the real winners will actually be the two thirds of prisoners who smoke. They will be forced to break their addiction. I don’t think there’s any serious justification for concerns that banning smokes could lead to more trouble in jails or that the prospect of not getting any ciggies will be enough to deter crime.

Why you don’t give the State too much power

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:00 am, June 22nd, 2010 - 30 comments

The Police should never have been given the power to take DNA off anyone they arrest. It should be handled by an independent group and only on conviction. Letting the Police take DNA off anyone they arrest gives them too much incentive to bend the rules, and that seems to be happening with Police pressuring people they haven’t even arrested into giving over their DNA.

Expel Israeli ambassador

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:08 am, June 1st, 2010 - 257 comments

Heavily-armed Israeli commandos have murdered at least 19 civilians in an unprovoked attack in international waters on a flotilla of ships trying to get aid to occupied Gaza. Reports indicate several times that many civilians are wounded. Details are sketchy because Israel has taken control of the ships and detained surviving the passengers and crew.

Second thoughts on three strikes

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 3:55 pm, May 25th, 2010 - 42 comments

“Three strikes” is likely to become law today. This video shows that three strikes legislation hasn’t worked overseas. It’s unlikely to work here. It’s a crime bill that is not expected to deter or reduce crime and may increase murders.