KEY POINTS:
A controversial police initiative targeting the worst crime families will be rolled out across the country under a National-led Government.
Announcing policing measures yesterday, party leader John Key said National would extend Canterbury's Persistent Offender Programme to other police districts if it proved successful.
In Canterbury, police identified and targeted the 10 worst crime families and used various methods to apply pressure to each of them to try to stem offending.
It has similarities with a British scheme to identify London's 100 most likely murderers and rapists.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concern about how families are being targeted in the Canterbury scheme. Police used tactics such as frequent bail checks and traffic stops to deter the known criminals from offending.
"We have very young children from the age of 10 who have learned behaviour about crime from their parents and older siblings," said Inspector John Price.
"They have no clearly defined boundaries set at home. Crime is seen as a viable option."
Among families targeted by police were those who had shifted to Canterbury to be near relatives in prison.
The gang-connected Kara family moved from Taranaki after Renee Kara O'Brien, 14, was sent to Christchurch Women's Prison to serve alife sentence for the murder ofWaitara truck driver Ken Pigott in2002.
Three years later, her younger brother, Ray Kara, 16, was involved in the unprovoked murder of Christchurch accountant Trevor Clague as he walked home.
"At least up in Taranaki they had a support network. In Christchurch they don't," Mr Price said.
National Party police spokesman Chester Borrows said the initiative had worked in Canterbury and could be successful elsewhere.
"If we are targeting recidivist offenders, we drive down overall crime and tolerance of it.
"You are getting bigger bang for your buck."
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA
