Cabinet to moot tougher penalties

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 16

Cabinet to moot tougher penalties

Tougher penalties for some offences would be recommended to Parliament this year by the Special Cabinet Committee on Crime, the Minister of Police (Mr McCready) said in Christchurch yesterday.

Mr McCready also hinted at possible sweeping changes in existing legislation, which, he said, contained too many loopholes and had proved inadequate in some cases. “The courts can only administer the law as it stands,” Mr McCready said. “If the law is inadequate, the Government must step in.” The Cabinet committee was set up in January this year to examine means of giving the police more effective powers — particularly in dealing with motorcycle gangs and crimes of violence.

Mr McCready said the committee’s recommendations would have to be approved by the full National Party caucus before being introduced to Parliament — probably soon after it sat.

“We have made considerable progress so far, and we hope to have new legislation soon,” he said. The committee had met four times, and was investigating legal aspects of the proposed amendments. “If the police are to be given certain powers we must ensure that these fit in with the pattern of the law,” Mr McCready said. He said he was unable to give details of the proposed changes until the committee had completed its investigations.

“But we are particularly concerned at the increase in drug offences and crimes of violence,” he said. The Minister also outlined possible measures to combat the increase in “white-collar crime.” Such offences were difficult and time-consuming to investigate, said Mr McCready.

“Accordingly, the police are training people in the accounting field, and creating opportunities for policemen to attend university.

“What we really want in this field is men with a police background and professional qualifications as well,” Mr McCready said.