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The Government today announced its plan for a multi-agency offensive on organised crime.

Strengthening New Zealand’s Resistance to Organised Crime, an All-of-Government Response, outlines a plan to disrupt criminal networks.

More than 5,000 Police Safety Orders (PSOs) were issued in the first year of their existence, Justice Minister Simon Power and Police Minister Judith Collins said today.

The orders, which came into effect on 1 July last year, allow Police to remove an alleged violent person from the home for a period of up to five days.

Police can use the new tool in situations where there is insufficient evidence to arrest but where they believe there is a likelihood of violence occurring.

Figures released for the year to July show:

The Government is to undertake a review of New Zealand’s public prosecution services, the Attorney-General, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Police announced today.

“The review will be comprehensive, examining the organisational structures, governance, and accountability of agencies within the prosecution system, as well as their roles, functions, and processes,” said Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson, who is lead minister for the review.

A Bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections Officers an aggravating factor at sentencing passed its first reading in Parliament today.

The Minister of Police and Corrections, Judith Collins, told Parliament that the current law did not require a judge to take a law enforcement officer’s status into account as an aggravating factor at sentencing. Instead, it is left to the discretion of the sentencing judge.

Justice Minister Simon Power today introduced legislation to make offending against Police and Corrections officers a mandatory aggravating factor at sentencing.

The Government is to legislate to make offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing.