Collins congratulated on latest victims’ initiative
Collins congratulated on latest victims’ initiative
25/06/2014
The Sensible Sentencing Trust has congratulated the Justice Minister, Judith Collins on the latest initiative to help protect victims.
The Victims Orders against Violent Offenders Bill passed its final reading last night.
The Bill means victims of serious violent and sexual offences will in future be able to apply for orders to stop their offender contacting them.
The Bill was passed into law by a unanimous vote on Tuesday night, Justice Minister Judith Collins said “Victims of serious crime deserve peace of mind so they can recover and move on with their lives."
“This Government has made perfectly clear its commitment to putting victims at the heart of our criminal justice system. Introducing these non-contact orders is one more way to ensure victims feel safe and protected from further offending.”
“The passage of this Bill supports this Government’s unrelenting commitment to putting victims first. We’re ensuring victims’ are protected and their voices in our criminal justice system remain strong.”
Ruth Money for the Sensible Sentencing Trust said the bill was another move in the right direction and the fact it passed unanimously was great news.
“We congratulate the Minister on this Bill but it is particularly pleasing to see that all our Members of Parliament were prepared to support something that gave victims more of a voice in what had become an offender friendly process.”
ENDS