29 October 2014

Roast Busters case highlights systemic failure

The decision by the Police not to prosecute in the ‘Roast Busters’ case shows the need for a judicial overhaul of sexual violence cases, said the Green Party today.

“Many people will be disappointed that there is no justice for the victims in this case. The current system is not working,” said Green Party women’s spokesperson Jan Logie.

“Our current system is broken – too many victims are going without justice because of a systemic failure of our laws to provide for victims of sexual violence.

“Former Minister Judith Collins abruptly stopped the work of the Law Commission on pre-trial processes of sexual violence cases last year for no good reason.

“In the wake of this case, the Government needs to ask the Law Commission to restart this work immediately.

“A number of the victims didn’t know a conclusion had been reached in this investigation.

“If the National government had implemented the recommendations of the Law Commission and set up special victims’ advisors from the start of complaints process, at the very least, victims would be aware of what was happening.

“It took 2 years and media attention for the Police to even look at this case with any seriousness. This highlights a culture in which victims are not taken seriously.

“New Zealand has a 1% conviction rate when it comes to sexual violence. Unless we make a real change to how we approach sexual violence, cases like this, will continue to happen and justice will continue to elude victims,” said Ms Logie.

ENDS

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