Govt takes steps to keep us safe in hospitals and from bank scams – and it aims to rehabilitate offenders on remand
Crime and punishment is the common thread to be discerned in the ministerial statements posted on the government’s official website since Point of Order last checked on who is doing what in the Beehive.
Three ministers had something to announce, when we checked the website this afternoon.
Mark Mitchell – as Minister of Corrections – said the government wants prisoners on remand to have access to rehabilitation and reintegration support.
Rehabilitation and reintegration support to turn their lives around before they have been convicted of a crime?
No. Some prisoners who have been convicted of a crime are held on remand while awaiting sentencing. These are the ones who will be provided with rehabilitation that helps address the causes of their offending.
How many will there be?
This no doubt will be determined by the success or otherwise of Mark Mitchell’s policy agenda as Minister of Police.
His statement included notes to explain:
Rehabilitation and reintegration support to turn their lives around before they have been convicted of a crime?
No. Some prisoners who have been convicted of a crime are held on remand while awaiting sentencing. These are the ones who will be provided with rehabilitation that helps address the causes of their offending.
How many will there be?
This no doubt will be determined by the success or otherwise of Mark Mitchell’s policy agenda as Minister of Police.
His statement included notes to explain:
- Remand accused prisoners are in prison awaiting trial and have not yet been convicted. They must be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
- Remand convicted prisoners have been convicted and are in prison awaiting sentencing.
With almost 45 per cent of the prison population now on remand, the corrections system needs to adapt to support their needs so we can reduce re-offending and keep the public safe,” Mitchell said.
As part of the Government’s 100-day plan, it aims to make it explicit in the Corrections Act 2004 that prisoners who are on remand and convicted of a crime will be provided with rehabilitation that helps address the causes of their offending.
Nearly 1,400 prisoners could benefit at any one time, Mitchell said.
Other amendments include a clear expectation that remand accused prisoners will be provided with reintegration and other non-offence-focused support while in prison. Non-offence-focused support includes alcohol and drug treatment and educational or behavioural skills programmes.
The government will be asking the Justice Committee to consider this Amendment Paper alongside the Corrections Amendment Bill that is currently before the committee.
Health Minister Shane Reti’s focus is on keeping hospital emergency departments safe from people prone to violence and apt to beat up hospital staff or patients.
Reti announced the continuation of increased security measures at eight hospitals.
Our highest-risk Eds – Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Waikato, Middlemore, Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore – are the ones where security will be extended.
When requested, support will be available to other EDs needing surge capacity over the next few months, for example during certain events.
Depending on the success of these security measures, fewer thugs will finish up in the hands of the police and Corrections Department.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly got in on the law-and-order action to announce the government’s support for select committee recommendations to discourage bank scams.
In 2022, the Finance and Expenditure Committee launched an inquiry into banks’ processes and consumer protections against scams. This inquiry reported back to the House in August last year with three recommendations.
- New Zealand adopt a system similar to the UK’s Confirmation of Payee scheme as part of the move to open banking
- the Government urge the New Zealand Bankers’ Association to update its Code of Banking Practice1 to offer further measures that help protect consumers from scams and fraudulent activity
- a voluntary compensation or reimbursement scheme be investigated for the New Zealand setting, similar to the one operating in the UK.
Latest from the Beehive
3 MARCH 2024
The coalition Government has taken the first steps to ensure prisoners on remand can access the rehabilitation and reintegration support they need to turn their lives around.
1 MARCH 2024
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says a continuation of increased security measures at eight key hospitals around New Zealand reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to the safety of healthcare staff, and patients.
The Government supports the recommendations of the Finance and Expenditure Committee reports on bank scam processes, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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