Grey Power Support for tougher Measures Against family Violence

Chair of Grey Power’s Law and Order National Advisory Group, Graeme Faulkner of Blenheim, has commended an initiative by Justice Minister Amy Adams to take a tougher stance on family violence.

The proposed new legislation will created a new category of offences with tougher penalties for serious and repeat offending.

Mr Faulkner, a former police officer, said family violence affected all age groups.

“This proposed new legislation sends the message that any concerns around domestic violence need to be reported either by the victim or their friends or neighbours should be reported immediately either to the police or other agencies.”

Mr Faulkner said it was his personal opinion that the increase in penalties would be a great thing but the judiciary really only needed to make better use of what is available now.

“Most statutes for serious crime give a very good penalty but the maximum is seldom used. That is followed by the so called research that shows the increasing penalties does not really work but my view is they should make more use of preventive detention for violent offenders. It is also known that a good deal of offenders lose the urge to commit crime by the time they get into the 40’s or 50’s. It’s only the recidivist offenders that carry on and we should be harsher on them.”

Mr Faulkner said the proposed new legislation was step in the right direction.

Ends

© Scoop Media