Bill will re-victimise victims of violent crime

Victims of violent crime are more likely to be re-victimised than protected by a new Bill letting them to apply for non-contact orders against their perpetrators, Labour’s Justice spokesperson Andrew Little says.

The Victims Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill creates a new type of court order to prevent offenders convicted of a violent crime having contact with their victim and passed its first reading in Parliament today.

“This Bill is just cynical because the victim would be required to apply to the court for an order -- at their own expense -- and would be required to square off in court with the very person they are seeking to avoid.”

“Protecting victims of crime from on-going threats and intimidation by a perpetrator is the State’s responsibility and can easily be done through sentencing arrangements or parole conditions.”

“While some changes may be needed to sentencing and parole legislation to do this, any extra cost to the Government is likely to be minimal because only around ten applications a year are expected.”

“Judith Collins and this Government are good at giving the appearance of helping victims, but this Bill puts the burden on victims for something the State should be doing.”

‘Labour has reluctantly supported this Bill’s first reading in the hope the Law and Order Select Committee can come up with a genuine way to protect victims from intimidation and harassment from their perpetrators.”

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