The Government is introducing new offences to ensure those who assault on-duty first responders or prison officers spend longer in prison, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“Where others may flee, first responders and prison officers run towards danger to help those who need urgent assistance.
“Assaulting them puts multiple lives at risk, so there must be greater consequences for these heinous acts of violence. Our hardworking police officers, firefighters, paramedics and prison officers deserve better.”
Under these proposed offences:
- Assaulting a first responder or prison officer will have a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment. This expands an existing provision on assaulting Police to cover all first responders and prison officers.
- Assaulting a first responder or prison officer with intent to injure will have a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. This is a two-year increase in penalty from the standard offence.
- Injuring a first responder or prison officer with intent to injure will have a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and will be added to Three Strikes to ensure mandatory minimum sentences in line with that regime. This is also a two-year increase in penalty from the standard offence.
“This builds on our sentencing reforms which came into effect today, and is another way we will denounce violence in New Zealand,” said Goldsmith.
“It fulfils a commitment in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement, to introduce the Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers legislation to create a specific offence for assaults on first responders which includes minimum mandatory prison sentences.
“We promised to restore real consequences for crime. That’s exactly what we’re delivering. It’s all part of our plan to restore law and order, which we know is working.”
Image credit: Thomas Kinto
If its all working there are no problems
They got something right
Time will tell
Whether in fact this deterrent actually will and is working as claimed
Maybe a period of solitary
And bread and water may make people think before they act
And weigh the consequences of their actions
And no KFC to lure them down when they break out onto the prison roof
Just wondering if the government will legislate the police complaints authority to allow the single judge to convict voilent police who act in ways to inflame, provoke and commit perjury rather than recomend an action to the minister of police.
Was thinking along similar lines, will the new law apply in cases where police attack and assault citizens illegally?
Worth noting that technically, a touch will be classed as an assault. This is what happened to Liz Gunn.
Yes. Whereas peaceful sleeping men women and children were violently assaulted by police with clubs, sirens, pepper spray with no charges, yet Liz Gunn was convicted for touching a person on the shoulder.
I totally support this! I work in social services and I see first hand the amazing work cops do. Mostly saving, protecting and helping a community that often hates them. But, yeah, the Liz Gunn “assault” was such a crock.