24 September 2004

Don Brash MP National Party Leader

Law and order shocks keep coming

Labour's politically correct law and order policies are still failing to protect the most vulnerable New Zealanders, says National Party Leader Don Brash.

"National will not be pulling any punches on law and order," he says. "There will be no parole for violent or repeat offenders."

He is commenting after the sentencing of two violent criminals and the continuing delay by the Government over the issue of compensation for prisoners.

* John Taylor was on parole from a 'life' sentence when he drugged and raped a 75-year-old woman in a Housing Corporation complex he had been put in. He had 76 previous convictions, including attempted rape and manslaughter. * Danny Wayne had a 25-year history of offending, including two convictions for sexual abduction, when he tied up and raped a woman. He was sentenced to 10 years but can apply for parole after five years. * The Government ignored an offer by National to secure cross-party support for urgent legislation to prevent prisoners being awarded compensation.

Dr Brash says that under National, people like John Taylor will not be out in the community to commit their crimes because parole will be abolished.

"Our policy is clear: parole is an experiment that is not working and we will abolish it. Offenders like Taylor should serve their full sentence, full stop. The same goes for Danny Wayne. He should not be allowed to apply for parole. If he deserves 10 years, then that is what he should serve.

"These are perfect examples of why preventive detention should be expanded."

On compensation for prisoners, Dr Brash says a law must be introduced urgently before more prisoners can gain financially from their time in prison.

"The Government continues to dither on this - they have known about it since April - while approximately 200 more prisoners are lining up to make compensation claims.

"Like most New Zealanders, I am appalled that political correctness in this country has reached the point where violent and recidivist offenders can do this while their victims continue to suffer," Dr Brash says. "I offered to help the Prime Minister put forward urgent legislation to put a stop to this madness, but my offer was rejected. It is time this Government got real on crime."

ENDS

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