Press Release Monday 15th January 2007
Victims’ Trust Scoops National Award

Victims of violent crime and New Zealanders advocating for a safer country are celebrating after the Sensible Sentencing Trust was recognised with a prestigious national award.

The Premier Trust of the Year Award for 2006, given by the New Zealand Trustees Association in Napier on Friday, selected the Trust from the many other entries because of the high profile it had created in promoting its goal of better victims’ rights and tougher penalties for crime.

“Incredibly there are some who say charity is not delivered through lobbying Government. Without a doubt it is clear that this charity has widespread endorsement from their members, funders and many people throughout the country, to do exactly that. A real strength of this Trust is a strong combination of vision, governance and commitment”, said Association president, Gerald McKay.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott presented the award at a ceremony in the Council Chambers on Friday saying she had watched as the fledging organisation reached national prominence, “We are very proud to have the Sensible Sentencing Trust based in Napier”.

The award capped off a very big year for the tough-on-crime lobby group with its spokesman Garth McVicar voted one of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand by The Listener magazine and an in-depth feature in the North & South magazine raising the organisation’s profile.

Started in 2001 by Garth McVicar and his wife Anne, the Trust now has its head office in Napier with four staff and enjoys the support of thousands of New Zealanders who share the Trust’s vision and no-nonsense stance on law and order.

Mr. McVicar said family, staff and supporters of the Trust had been hugely influential in the group’s success, “but most of all I want to thank the victims who had the courage to join our campaign and make this journey possible. This award is for you”.

“The Sensible Sentencing Trust is now recognized as the voice for victims, it is our intention to continue building it into an effective, credible voice for the common-sense silent majority of New Zealanders who believe the soft on crime experiment has failed”.

While 2006 was a huge year for the lobby group, it had no plans to ease off on its message for tougher penalties for violent crime. With an election looming in 2008 the Trust was already preparing for a hard-hitting campaign.

Organisations like the Hastings Returned Services Association (who had pledged $100,000 to help the trust campaign) showed the organisation had the public support to continue pushing for positive changes to the justice system.

ENDS

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