THE PRESS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987. Groping on law and order

Press, 20 February 1987, Page 16

THE PRESS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987. Groping on law and order

As an expression of concern about criminal offending in New Zealand, the National Party’s policy announcement on law and

order may be admirable. As a statement of what might be done to make lives and property more secure, it hardly goes beyond tinkering with the present arrangements of police, courts, and prisons. New ideas that promise to be effective have been scarce for many years. The level of crime has been increasing steadily for a decade and more; it is not a product of Labour’s term in office. The problem is not unique to New Zealand. Other parts of the Western world face similar rates of offending. Whatever has been tried, [significant improvements in the level Of security in communities remain rare.

This does not mean that nothing more should be attempted. The National Party has gauged the community’s mood correctly if it makes matters of law and order a prominent issue in the General Election this year. Some of th£-Government’s changes to the system have seemed to favour the criminals over those who are their victims, and over those

whose business it is to protect the community. Much of the change to the law on punishments and .reformation actually originated within the term of the last Government. The National Party might feel that it would go further and more quickly to

express, through the law, the community’s disquiet. The trouble with the topic’s becoming a great election issue is that bold and competing claims are not likely to be borne out in practice.

Whether changes proposed by National would work is a moot point To propose, for instance, that the maximum penalty for rape be increased to 20 years imprisonment appeals to a deep concern. It will make little difference to offending unless the courts show a readiness to use such a change to impose much increased penalties, and the parole system is toughened up to ensure that offenders serve most of their prison term. Evfen then, the greatest benefit would not be in deterrence or rehabilitation of offenders,

but in keeping out of tbe community, and away from the possibility of further offences, those who have been convicted.

Worthy promises in the policy include an intention to take more account of the rights of the victim of crime, and to give the police “the manpower and resources necessary to combat the burgeoning crime rate.” More police in some areas might help; sufficient police to return New Zealand to the lawabiding conditions of 30 years ago would be ' beyond the resources of any Government As successive Governments have suggested, a real reduction in crime may come only from changes in education and in attitudes to personal responsibility. These are matters that go far beyond the questions of “law and order.”

For the victims of criminal offences,

more might be done. Where possible, attention should be given to suitable reparations being extracted from an offender on behalf of the victim. More attention in court to the impact of offences on victims might encourage tougher sentencing, although judges now are generally well informed about the results of offences.

Any measures that might bring victims and offenders together are probably pointless. Most victims of serious crimes surely want to have as little as possible to do with those who have attacked or robbed them.

The level of criminal offending has become a matter that is too important to be bandied about between political opponents in an election campaign. A system of government that cannot ensure reasonable safety for people and their property forfeits its title to govern. When people are not safe in their homes and on the streets, the justification for government has been lost. When the major parties differ only on matters of detail in their approach to law enforcement and punishment, an agreed general approach between them might serve the community better than attempts at pointscoring on particulars. In the approach to what may be a closely contested election, that is probably too much to hope for.