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Police and Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has announced that the country’s first sex offender register, the Child Protection Offender Register, is to be introduced to help keep communities safe.

Police and Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says the Government is taking action to tackle and prevent gang crime, to reduce the harm it causes to families and communities.

For the first time, a multi-agency approach involving intelligence-gathering, enhanced law enforcement, prevention, intervention, rehabilitation and reintegration will be adopted to address New Zealand gangs and transnational crime groups. 

Police Minister Anne Tolley and Commerce Minister Craig Foss today welcomed an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Mrs Tolley, as the Minister responsible for the SFO, says continued coordination and cooperation between the two agencies will improve efficiency and effectiveness.

“This MOU will enable faster and more effective prosecutions by streamlining processes to avoid duplication and make the most of each agency’s resources.”

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith have welcomed the completed refurbishment of the first four earthquake-damaged red zone houses in Christchurch, undertaken as part of a joint initiative between the Department of Corrections and Housing New Zealand (HNZ) and officially opened today by the Prime Minister. 

Police Minister Anne Tolley has presented special commemorative service awards to the five Chinese police staff that helped identify victims following the Christchurch earthquake in 2011. 

The Canterbury Earthquake Dress Distinction Ribbon was presented to disaster specialists at a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Public Security’s Forensic Centre in Beijing.

“It was an honour to present these awards to Chinese Police staff, and to acknowledge the 23 Chinese victims who lost their lives during the Christchurch earthquake,” says Mrs Tolley.

Police Minister Anne Tolley is travelling to Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong from 12-19 July, where she will reinforce the strong crime-fighting cooperation that exists between New Zealand and China.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says that a Bill which expands Extended Supervision Orders (ESOs) for child sex offenders beyond the current maximum ten-year time frame has passed its first reading in Parliament.

Under the Parole (Extended Supervision Orders) Amendment Bill, ESOs will be able to be renewed for as long as they are needed, with regular mandatory review by the courts.

It will also allow ESOs to be extended to include the management of high risk adult sex offenders and very high risk violent offenders.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has congratulated Police for their success in the 2014 IPANZ awards, which included the Prime Minister’s award for their Prevention First model.

This top award acknowledges public sector excellence and excellence in improving public value through business transformation.

Overall, Police were successful in four categories, on their own and alongside justice sector partners.

“The recognition for Prevention First, and its results for our communities, is thoroughly deserved,” says Mrs Tolley.

A cross-government approach to prevent family violence proposes new Justice sector initiatives to keep women and children safe, Justice Minister Judith Collins and Police and Corrections Minister Anne Tolley announced today.

“The high rate of family violence in New Zealand is unacceptable – too many domestic violence victims continue to be re-victimised even when a protection order is in place,” Ms Collins says.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says the sea change in the Government’s approach to offender rehabilitation is continuing to show extremely positive results.

The rate of offenders returning to prison within a year of release has dropped by a total of 4 per cent since June 2011, with a 3 per cent drop in the last year.

“This shows that our unprecedented increase in rehabilitation support for prisoners is starting to make a real difference, in an area in which it is notoriously difficult to have any impact,” says Mrs Tolley.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has today officially opened the new Rotorua Police station and Bay of Plenty District headquarters.

The new building, costing $18.3 million, is the sixteenth new Police station to open since the start of 2009, with a total cost across all of the projects of $145 million.

“This new station represents a significant investment in the Rotorua area and is a great new asset for Police and local communities,” says Mrs Tolley.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has officially opened a new National Command and Coordination Centre in Wellington, which will use the latest technology to tackle and prevent crime and to keep New Zealanders safe.

The Command Centre, based at Police National Headquarters, will provide staff with real-time information on emerging issues across the country.

This will allow Police to deploy staff more effectively in response to developing events, so that strategic operational decisions can be coordinated.

Police Minister Anne Tolley and Revenue Minister Todd McClay say a new information-sharing agreement between Inland Revenue and the Police will help fight serious crime.

Starting in August, Police will be able to request relevant personal information from Inland Revenue when they have reasonable grounds to suspect a serious offence has or is being committed. Serious crimes are defined as crimes punishable by a jail sentence of four years or more.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed the release of an Independent Police Conduct Authority report on Police handling of “Roastbusters” media enquiries.

“The report confirms that there was a communication breakdown within Police,” says Mrs Tolley.

“Although not deliberate, this was disappointing and the Commissioner personally apologised to me at the time for this mistake.

Police Minister Anne Tolley says legislation has been introduced which will enable Police to strengthen its vetting service.

The Policing Act 2008 will be amended through the Policing (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill to include provisions for the Police to recover the costs of certain services.

Cabinet has agreed that this will only apply to Police vetting, and once the Bill is passed regulations will be implemented to set small charges for the service.

Budget 2014 builds on the successful results of recent years in reducing crime and reoffending to ensure there are fewer victims of crime, Police and Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says.

“Police and Corrections will continue to target their resources to prevent crime and address the drivers of crime to make our communities safer,” she says.

“Both organisations have delivered fantastic results and I am confident that great gains will continue to be made as a result of this smarter approach.”

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has marked the $22 million redevelopment at Whanganui Prison with the official opening of the revamped administration building and the start of upgrades to the prison’s East and West wings.

The work is part of upgrades to six prisons around the country costing $87 million.

The administration building includes a new Audio Visual Link (AVL) facility which removes any risks associated with prisoner transport by allowing prisoners to make court appearances without leaving the secure facility.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the addition of the Whangarei, Nelson and Hutt Valley courts to the audio visual link (AVL) network connecting courts and prisons.

The new links are the latest in a $27.8 million upgrade programme, which is expanding AVL links to a total of 18 courts and 13 prisons by 2015.

Police Minister Anne Tolley says that Police reported significantly fewer serious assaults and public disorder offences after changes to alcohol laws came into full effect at the end of last year.

Maximum trading hours, new infringement offences and new enforcement powers for Police were introduced on 18 December 2013, following the full implementation of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has officially opened the Lower Hutt Community Corrections site, which has been refurbished at a total cost of $957,000.

The site now provides a safer environment for staff, as they support offenders to comply with sentences and order conditions.

“The probation staff at this site play an important role in helping keep the community safe and in helping us reduce reoffending,” says Mrs Tolley.

“The new design will allow officers to deliver better results in a safer workplace.

Police Minister Anne Tolley and Customs Minister Maurice Williamson have announced that New Zealand’s drug enforcement relationship with China is being strengthened to help identify organised criminals in China and reduce the supply of precursors and methamphetamine into this country.

The new initiative will play a key part in the Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan, and follows the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement (MOA) on precursor controls between China and New Zealand in April 2013.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has congratulated Police Commissioner Peter Marshall on his long and distinguished career serving the New Zealand public, as he prepares to retire from the service.

“Peter Marshall has led by example at home and overseas since joining the New Zealand Police in 1972,” says Mrs Tolley.

“He has been an extremely successful Commissioner, with crime falling in each of his three years at the helm.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has congratulated Police staff following the announcement that recorded crimes have fallen for the fourth year in a row, down a total of 20.2 per cent, to their lowest figure in 29 years.

“Fewer crimes means fewer victims and safer communities, and I want to thank our officers for everything they are doing to serve and protect the public,” says Mrs Tolley.

Offences dropped by 4.1 per cent in 2013, with 15,602 fewer recorded crimes compared to the year before, and 90,994 fewer offences in 2013 compared to 2009.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has taken part in a sod-turning ceremony at Invercargill Prison to mark the start of a $17.9 million construction upgrade.

The building work will improve safety and security at the prison, while providing better rehabilitation and training facilities for prisoners.

Five other prisons across the country are also being upgraded at a total cost of $87 million.