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Investment by the Government to improve court safety has resulted in significant improvements, Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced today.

Between 2009/10 and 2011/12, security incidents in courts have fallen by 35 per cent, with serious incidents down 63 per cent.

“Those who go to court should be able to feel safe, whatever their reason for being there.  That’s why we’re investing in additional court security where it’s needed, and I’m pleased to see that investment paying off,” says Mr Borrows.

Expanding relationships with Māori and iwi youth service providers is an important tool in addressing Māori over-representation in youth crime, says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

“Young Māori are significantly over-represented in youth offending statistics, with an apprehension rate of more than three times that of Pacific or New Zealand European young people,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows welcomed a successful trial today of video conferencing in the Family Court.

“Web-based video conferencing is exactly the kind of technology to bring our courts into the 21st century, offering great accessibility, efficiency and convenience.  Today’s mock hearing is an important step towards a more modern court system,” says Mr Borrows.

Improving the way we deal with victims of youth crime is an important part of a credible youth justice system, says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

“It doesn’t matter if the criminal is 16 or 26; the impact of the crime is the same.  That’s why ensuring good treatment for victims of crime is just as important in the youth justice system as it is in the adult system,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today announced changes to the District Court network, as part of efforts to modernise court operations.

“With crime falling to record lows and the number of people coming to court decreasing, we are taking the opportunity to improve how the 63 District Courts are administered and to modernise services so they are more in line with public expectations,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced today that people can now lodge claims and counterclaims with the Disputes Tribunal and pay their fee online.

“In a digital world, New Zealanders expect to access information and services via the internet, with all the convenience and speed that brings.  Moving Disputes Tribunal applications online will deliver that level of service for the over,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows welcomed the impending start of new information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) as a huge step forward in preventing welfare fraud.

“The vast majority of beneficiaries are doing the best they can and follow the rules, but a small minority exploit the system at great cost to taxpayers,” says Mr Borrows.

Last year alone 714 people were convicted of benefit fraud totalling $23.4 million.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows says National Social Workers Day is the perfect time to acknowledge the important work social workers do with New Zealand’s young offenders.

“Unfortunately many people think that a clip-around-the-ear and a few stern words is all a young offender needs. But these young people have complex issues which need addressing, giving youth justice social workers an incredibly hard, but essential, job to help put them back on the right track,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today released a consultation document on changes to civil fees in courts and tribunals administered by the Ministry of Justice.

“Civil court and tribunal fees need to strike a balance between the public and private benefit of court and tribunal services, to fairly allocate the cost between taxpayers and those using the services.  The proposals being consulted on are aimed at delivering a principled, consistent and fair approach to civil court fees,” says Mr Borrows.

“Alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes are a vital weapon in reducing youth crime, helping young people to break out of the cycle of addiction, develop pro-social skills and resist the negative influences of peers,” says Associate Minister Social Development Chester Borrows.

Mr Borrows today visited Odyssey House in Christchurch, which has 27 years’ experience in providing alcohol and other drug rehabilitation programmes to adults and young people.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced today that the amount of fines and reparation owed has reached its lowest level in eight years, falling more than 25 per cent in three years.

“This Government is committed to building a safer New Zealand, and to do that every part of our justice system has to deliver results.  Fines and reparations are an important tool to deal with offenders, but they must be seen as a credible and effective sanction,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows today tabled the Government’s response to the Social Services Select Committee inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation and protection of child offenders.

“I share the Committee’s determination to ensure today’s child offenders don’t turn into career criminals and the right steps are taken to get these young people’s lives on track.

“The Committee provided a thoughtful report and the Government has carefully considered its recommendations,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today released terms of reference for the Youth Crime Action Plan.

The plan is part of the Government’s efforts to reduce offending by, and victimisation of, children and young people.

Helping the parents of serious young offenders develop the skills and strategies they need to deal with their children is a key step in reducing youth offending, says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

Mentoring young people at risk of becoming career criminals is the best way to put them on the right track, says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

Mr Borrows today visited Wairarapa based mentoring provider Te Hiringa Ora to congratulate them on their outstanding work, accompanied by Wairarapa MP John Hayes. Te Hiringa Ora are one of the providers who have delivered mentoring for more than 1100 at risk young people under the Fresh Start reforms, introduced in October 2010.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today opened a temporary criminal court facility on Masterton’s Church Street, to accommodate criminal hearings until the main courthouse is reopened.

“The temporary closure of seven courthouses due to seismic risk has been challenging, both for Courts and for the local community. Throughout it we have been focused on restoring services as quickly as possible, particularly to the priority areas of Christchurch, Dunedin and Masterton,” says Mr Borrows.

In another technological innovation, Courts Minister Chester Borrows today announced changes to allow the filing of Disputes Tribunal applications online, to commence 1 October 2012.

“The Disputes Tribunal is New Zealand’s most accessible forum for dealing with lower level disputes, but until now people have had to fill in forms by hand and post them or deliver them to the nearest District Court. This is not customer friendly, cost-effective, or an efficient way of working,” says Mr Borrows.

Starting today, the next big changes from the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill will reinforce the collection of reparations, and will allow people to contest fines over the internet rather than at the court counter, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

“Reparation payments are an effective form of punishment but sometimes reparations orders are made after unreasonable promises to pay, are simply never paid, or take so long to pay the order is worthless. Today’s changes will address this,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Minister of Social Development Chester Borrows today spoke with practitioners, NGOs and academics at a forum to discuss ways to improve responses to child offending.

“New Zealand has one of the best systems in the world for responding to child offending, but we know there are areas where we need to do better. Those at the coalface of child offending know what works and what doesn’t and I’m glad to have the chance to hear directly from them what they need to make our system better,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today announced a targeted review of the coronial system and the Coroners Act 2006.

“In many respects the coronial system is working well.  However, after speaking with coroners and families, I am conscious that there may be room for further improvement”, says Mr Borrows. 

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed moves to open, adjourn and close the District Court in Te Reo Māori as well as English.

The initiative has been led by the District Court Heads of Bench, supported by the Ministry of Justice, and launched today to coincide with Māori Language Week.

“These changes are an important way of recognising New Zealand’s cultural heritage. Using a small amount of Te Reo in the administration of the Court will encourage people to understand and use one of our national languages,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will travel to Australia from 12 to 14 July to visit court, tribunal and youth justice facilities in Sydney and Melbourne.

Mr Borrows will meet with senior justice sector officials and Victorian Attorney General Robert Clark to look at justice sector innovations that have the potential to be introduced to New Zealand as part of government efforts to modernise the court system.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today announced an extensive review of the 2002 Youth Offending Strategy.

“If we are going to deliver the reduction in youth crime the Government has committed to in our Better Public Service Targets, we need to drive practical and co-ordinated change across the youth justice sector.

When a Member of Parliament gets elected and comes to the House for the first time, he or she comes with some preconceptions, some baggage and some dreams.

When I first stood for Parliament I had a fair dollop of all three.

These grew or diminished in proportion with the following election defeats, until I finally won a seat and have retained it through two successive elections.

No doubt it is the same for all of us when we start a new career or take up a new position.