Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

‘Coward Punch’ Law Change Petition Gains More Than 15k Signatures

In the wake of the coward punch attack on Fau Vake, a petition set up by the Sensible Sentencing Trust to bring in harsher sentences for these attacks has now reached well over fifteen thousand signatures.

“This petition is still growing in number and shows how strongly the people of New Zealand are feeling about this issue and how important it is for the government to start listening, says Darroch Ball co-leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust.

“We launched this petition to pressure the government to introduce legislation that would deliver stronger sentences for these attacks.”

“We have this legislation already written up and is ready to be tabled. It would see a new murder offence introduced into the Crimes Act and ensure minimum mandatory prison time is brought in for these types of offences.”

“If we don’t address this issue tragic incidents like what occurred over the weekend will just continue to happen on our streets.”

“Not only will harsher sentences act as a deterrent, but it will, more importantly, bring a sense of justice for victims and their families, hold offenders to account for their cowardly act, and make our streets safer by locking these thugs up.”

“Too often the charges are for a lower-level offence with lower-level maximum sentences, with the end sentence that is often received is just a slap on the wrist.”

“The law needs to change so we can make people think twice before they act, hold offenders to account, and bring justice for victims.”

Petition · New Zealand Government : Harsher 'Coward-Punch' laws needed in New Zealand · Change.org
 

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.