Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced legislative changes granting businesses broader authority to detain shoplifters, allowing citizens to intervene in Crimes Act offences at any time, use reasonable force when necessary, and mandating police contact during arrests.
The move, part of a $1.8 million-per-year retail crime initiative, aims to curb rising theft and violence against retail workers but has sparked concerns about potential escalation and vigilantism.
While Goldsmith insists the changes offer businesses an option rather than an obligation, critics warn they could increase risks for employees and lead to more confrontations.
“Stopping someone from moving, restraining them is fundamentally what we’re on about … and then the role is to call for the police and to hold them until such time,” said Goldsmith.
“Every business or individual has to decide for themselves in any given circumstance whether it is safe to intervene.
“And, quite rightly, on many occasions people will conclude it’s not, and they won’t. But at least now, they have the opportunity.”
Image credit: Kindel Media
A better solution is to imprison all violent offenders on the Auckland islands for life.
Ohh cool.. so if I see a crooked political figure or health representative I can tackle them and hold them under arrest
Sounds abit wish washy to me? So a big fat supermarket worker can rugby tackle a suspected shop lifter to the ground and put them in a head lock till police get there. Someone on minimum wage gets to determine what reasonable force is? Oops my bad turns out you didn’t steal anything here’s some grocerie vouchers to make up for our mistake
🤔