Defendants, not victims responsible for reparation: Barker

Defendants rather than victims of crime need to be responsible for reparation payments, Labour's Court spokesman Rick Barker says.

He is drafting a member's bill that seeks to change the current emphasis which sees victims forced to become creditors when they are owed reparations.

Ministry of Justice figures that show 60,000 victims were owed $80.5 million in reparations.

"The equation has to be turned around so the responsibility to pay falls on the defendant," Mr Barker said.

"At the moment if your bike is damaged in an accident not of your fault, or your television is stolen, you have to pay for the new bike or TV yourself while the defendant is given time to pay reparation over months or years. That is not right. The victim should not be the creditor for the person who has done them injury."

Mr Barker said the obligation should be on defendants to pay reparations immediately.

"They shouldn't be able to pay at their own convenience. They need to be made to take every step possible -- including bank loans or through their mortgages if they have one, or through personal loans from family and friends."

- NZPA