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Serious Drug Suspects Get Electronic Bail
Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections
Spokesman
16 January 2007
Serious Drug Suspects Get Electronic Bail
The Government is allowing people accused of serious involvement with New Zealand’s scariest drug – methamphetamine – to be remanded on electronic bail, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.
He is releasing figures which show that of eight people remanded on electronic bail since the trial began on 25 September last year, four had been charged with possession of a Class A drug or with manufacturing methamphetamine.
“Electronic monitoring was meant to be for people who would otherwise be in custody.
“Look at the people the Government is allowing out on bail as part of their catch-and-release policy to cut prison numbers.
“The public will be horrified to learn that people charged with using and dealing in such a drug would be freed on remand into the community.
“Making ‘P’ and dealing it can receive a maximum penalty of life in prison but it seems this Government is happy to leave suspects in the community while they await a court appearance.
“Will they really stop making, dealing and using while they are out on bail?
“Electronic monitoring should be for low-level, non-violent accused only, not for people charged with possessing and manufacturing this devastating drug.”
Other offences people on electronic bail are charged with include burglary, failure to answer bail, resisting police, wilful damage, reckless and dangerous driving.
“This Government’s plan to cut prison numbers by widening the eligibility for electronic bail and home detention is resulting in people being in the community who would otherwise be held in prison.
“National recently pointed out that half of the people on home detention had been convicted of violence, sex and drug offences – 25% on violence-related offences, 20% of drug or anti-social offences, and 5% of sexual-related offences.
“New Zealanders should be very concerned by this trend. What is the Government thinking?”
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