Collins' Comments: 12 October 2015

In this issue: Child Sex Offender Register – your feedback, New Code to better support victims of crime, Train travel in Auckland.

Hon Judith Collins, MP for Papakura

Child Sex Offender Register – your feedback

A big thank you to all of you who took the time to submit your thoughts on the Government’s Child Sex Offender Register proposal through the last edition of Collins’ Comments. All the responses we received were overwhelmingly in support of this policy.

Child sexual abuse causes significant and long-lasting harm to children in our community, and to their families. We need to do all we can to prevent it.

We are committed to keeping the youngest and most vulnerable New Zealanders safe in their homes and communities. I look forward to my colleague, Social Development Minister Hon Anne Tolley, progressing this important legislation through Parliament. I will keep you updated.

New Code to better support victims of crime

As part of National’s work to better support victims of crime, Justice Minister Amy Adams has launched a new Victims Code.

The Code clearly explains what victims can expect from the services provided by criminal justice agencies at each stage of the criminal justice process. This will make it easier for victims of crime to access support services available during what is often a very difficult time.

The new code lists 11 rights, including the right to make a victim impact statement, to receive notifications after an offender has been sentenced, to be informed about and express views on offender’s bail, and the right to make a submission relating to an offender’s parole or extended supervision orders.

From 1 October, the Victims of Crime Information Line (phone 0800 650 654) will also be extended to operate 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

It is heartening to see Justice Minister Hon Amy Adams continue the work on protecting victims of domestic violence I began while I was Minister of Justice. These included increasing penalties for breaches of protection orders, broadening the definition of domestic violence to include psychological and financial abuse and supporting the ‘Safe@ home’ programme.

For more information about the Victims Code, go towww.victimsinfo.govt.nz.

Train travel in Auckland

It is great to see Transport Minister, Hon Simon Bridges, has announced a law change for Auckland train transport ticketing and security next year.

The new law will allow enforcement officers to check passengers’ tickets and Hop cards to ensure correct fares have been paid. The new officers will be able to enforce a fine of $150, or if the case is referred to the Police and a charge is laid the person will face a fine of up to $1000 on conviction.

About 5 per cent of passengers do not pay their fare, and this costs other users, and local and central government about $2 million per year.

Latest figures show train travel has increased 22 per cent since the new electric trains started running – that’s 14.4 million passenger trips in a year since April 2014. A huge number of these trips originate from Papakura with over 4 million passenger trips on the Southern line annually.

I am pleased to be part of a Government delivering on making our homes and communities safer and improving our quality of life. That’s a win-win for everyone.

ends

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