Rape Crisis says National ignored victims for nine years

Today Rape Crisis criticised National’s direction on Justice for being ineffective and ignoring the needs of victims for nine years

“The Honourable Tony Ryall criticises Labour’s Justice policy – yet National passed the Home Invasion legislation against the recommendations of Rape Crisis, the National Network of Stopping Violence Services and Women’s Refuge,” said Claire Benson National Spokeswoman for Rape Crisis, “Why has it taken the National Government nine years to consider addressing the needs of victims?”

Rape Crisis wants to see the new Government focus on compensating victims, restorative justice and supporting prevention and rehabilitation programmes.

“Tougher sentences simply don’t work – instead we need to change the attitudes of offenders and show that we actually care about those people who have been victimised,” said Ms Benson. “We need to introduce financial compensation for victims of crimes. We need to support the rehabilitation and prevention programmes so that they can be effective. We need to consider the place of restorative justice in our system. If these are old ideas, according to the Minister of Justice, then why haven’t they been tried here?”

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For more information contact Claire Benson National Spokeswoman
021 684 227 or (04) 384 7028

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