Asenati Lole-Taylor MP
Spokesperson for Social Policy

28 February 2013

United Front Needed To Protect Innocent Children

New Zealand First is calling on all parties to support its Member’s Bill that would impose tougher sentences on criminals committing serious crimes such as operating a P-Lab when children are present.

Social Policy spokesperson Asenati Lole-Taylor says the Sentencing (Protection of Children from Criminal Offending) Amendment Bill has received positive responses from both Labour and the Maori Party.

“All parties need to unite in support of our Bill in order to deter adult criminals from operating P-labs or establishing drug dealing business in homes where children live.

“The time for procrastinating is over and Parliament needs to join forces to get criminals to be more accountable for the harm they cause innocent children.”

Mrs Lole-Taylor says over the past 10 years the number of adult criminal offending in the presence of children has deteriorated to a level that just can’t be tolerated.

“Criminals are taking the opportunity to groom children to consider criminal offending as the norm.

“The Bill strengthens judges’ powers when sentencing offenders where minors were exposed to potential serious harm.

“It also covers emotional and psychological harm inflicted on children by illegal activity, as well as physical harm,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

ENDS

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