By RNZ
An amendment to the Crimes Act has passed its final reading in Parliament.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the majority of the legislation will take effect within a week.
That includes an expansion to citizen’s arrest powers, allowing members of the public to intervene in any target="_self" rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/nz-first-to-oppose-clauses-in-governments-crimes-act-reform/ZI42NLLVUBB3ZN3KRNWZDA7T44/">Crimes Act offence at any time of day.
A person making an arrest would be allowed to use restraints “when reasonable”, but is also required to contact police and follow their instructions.
The bill is intended to crack down on retail crime by allowing security guards to detain thieves.
“Retailers and security guards face abuse and assault that no New Zealander should be subjected to, and we know the economic cost of retail crime is in the billions,” Goldsmith said in a statement.
The amendment also specifies a number of new, more specific offences, including for assaulting first responders and frontline corrections workers, and three new offences for “coward punches”.
“Where others may flee, first responders and frontline corrections workers run towards danger to help those who need urgent assistance. Assaulting them puts multiple lives at risk, so there must be greater consequences for these terrible acts of violence,” he said.
“We know how dangerous coward punches are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences. That changes with this legislation.”
Goldsmith said the amendment also strengthened trafficking and slavery laws to close loopholes.