Green MP Tamatha Paul is giving shoplifting the green light as she opposes the Government’s plan to strengthen penalties, National Party Spokesperson for Justice Paul Goldsmith says.
“The Greens are singing from the same old song sheet, making excuses for anyone who attacks or steals from hard working New Zealanders.”
Yesterday Ms Paul said, “if people don’t have enough money to buy food, then they’re going to look towards shoplifting things.”
“That seems to be okay with her and the Green Party. Does Labour agree?” Mr Goldsmith says. . .
This reminds me of a few years ago when a vicar in Wellington said it was okay to shoplift if you were hungry. The Oamaru Mail interviewed local members of the clergy.
None agreed and one said that he found it very difficult to comment on poverty in New Zealand. He came from South Africa where hundreds of people shared a single cold water tap. Here he sees people drive to the food bank.
Poverty and hunger might be relative but they are real problems but okaying theft isn’t a solution to that.
Shoplifting isn’t just taking from the shops. It’s adding to their costs which requires higher prices which makes what they sell for the honest people who buy from them.
The government is doing more to protect shopkeepers from crime.
The Government is making it easier for police to punish shoplifters and is introducing stronger penalties for low-level theft, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say.
“Public confidence in our justice system is undermined if people can steal with apparent impunity. It’s disheartening, and our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods,” Mr Goldsmith says.
“Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished. Our government is restoring real consequences for crime, and shoplifting is no exception.”
The proposed changes include:
- Introducing an infringement regime for shoplifting in retail premises. For stolen goods valued up to $500, infringement fees will be up to $500. For goods valued over $500, fees will be up to $1,000.
- Strengthening the penalties for theft.The maximum penalties will be one year imprisonment (if the value is approximately $2,000 or less), or seven years imprisonment (if value is approximately more than $2,000).
- Creating a new aggravated theft offence for when the value of the goods is under $2,000 and the theft is carried out in a manner that is offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly.
“Harsher penalties could mean up to twice as long behind bars for aggravated theft, and criminals will be forced to think twice before destroying more lives,” Mrs McKee says. . .
A lot of retail crime isn’t committed by desperate people who are starving. It’s to on-sell goods to fund drug, alcohol and gambling habits.
The government should be applauded for these measures and anyone thinking of voting for the Green Party should be aware that its MPs are on the side of the criminals not the victims.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
The government should be applauded for these measures and anyone thinking of voting for the Green Party should be aware that its MPs are on the side of the criminals not the victims.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
1 comment:
And there's the element that feel entitled to take what the want. The likes of Golriz, who of course was a Green party MP.
Post a Comment