KEY POINTS:
The vast majority of those granted electronic bail already have convictions for crimes committed on bail, the National Party says.
The party's justice spokesman Simon Power today released figures showing 40 of the 46 people allowed electronic bail in its first eight months had a history of offending while remanded at large.
Mr Power today said the figures showed bail with the condition of electronic monitoring was being used too widely and was putting the public at risk.
Mr Power later said 20 of the 46 so far granted electronic bail were charged with violence-related offences including manslaughter, kidnapping, rape, aggravated robbery and grievous assault.
"Why on earth would you give electronic bail to someone with a history like that," he said. "The Government is gambling with public safety."
"It's an experiment which should be trialed on low risk offenders," he said.
"Any experiment of this nature that is trialed on those with a high risk of offending will not gain the public confidence necessary for this scheme to work long term."
Mr Power said the Government needed to urgently tighten the scheme's criteria.
Since September last year courts have had the option of releasing alleged offenders with electronic monitoring as a condition of bail.
Under the controversial scheme bail defendants wear an electronic bracelet that was monitored by a unit at the person's house. If they leave the house for an unapproved reason, an alarm would activate at a control centre and police would be dispatched.
Official papers show the Government originally rejected electronic monitoring but then decided to adopt it as the number of inmates in custody swelled.
However justice officials warned that to reduce the number of people in custody electronic monitoring would have to be granted to prisoners with a history of offending which probably meant they were unsuitable.
Since the scheme began critics have pointed to high profile cases of offenders absconding and committing crimes on electronic bail, which they say prove their point.
A man freed from custody under the scheme in December is now facing fresh charges including attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and aggravated assault.
Auckland police are also hunting for a youth gang member, Mark Liku Famietau, who absconded from electronic bail more than a month ago and who is described as dangerous.
Mr Power said the figures showed that in 38 of the 46 cases of electronic bail granted to May 10, police had opposed bail.
Courts Minister Rick Barker has previously defended the scheme.
"Figures show that of those who are remanded in custody awaiting trial, 50 per cent of them are subsequently found to be not guilty," he said in January.
"So you are dealing with people who at this stage are innocent but charged, and it is a serious decision to take someone's freedom off them pending a decision."
Police say it is up to judges to decide who gets bail, and they exercise authority under the terms of the Bail Act.
- NZPA
The vast majority of those granted electronic bail already have convictions for crimes committed on bail, the National Party says.
The party's justice spokesman Simon Power today released figures showing 40 of the 46 people allowed electronic bail in its first eight months had a history of offending while remanded at large.
Mr Power today said the figures showed bail with the condition of electronic monitoring was being used too widely and was putting the public at risk.
"It's an experiment which should be trialed on low risk offenders," he said.
"Any experiment of this nature that is trialed on those with a high risk of offending will not gain the public confidence necessary for this scheme to work long term."
Mr Power said the Government needed to urgently tighten the scheme's criteria.
Since September last year courts have had the option of releasing alleged offenders with electronic monitoring as a condition of bail.
Under the controversial scheme bail defendants wear an electronic bracelet that was monitored by a unit at the person's house. If they leave the house for an unapproved reason, an alarm would activate at a control centre and police would be dispatched.
Official papers show the Government originally rejected electronic monitoring but then decided to adopt it as the number of inmates in custody swelled.
However justice officials warned that to reduce the number of people in custody electronic monitoring would have to be granted to prisoners with a history of offending which probably meant they were unsuitable.
Since the scheme began critics have pointed to high profile cases of offenders absconding and committing crimes on electronic bail, which they say prove their point.
A man freed from custody under the scheme in December is now facing fresh charges including attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and aggravated assault.
Auckland police are also hunting for a youth gang member, Mark Liku Famietau, who absconded from electronic bail more than a month ago and who is described as dangerous.
Mr Power said the figures showed that in 38 of the 46 cases of electronic bail granted to May 10, police had opposed bail.
Courts Minister Rick Barker has previously defended the scheme.
"Figures show that of those who are remanded in custody awaiting trial, 50 per cent of them are subsequently found to be not guilty," he said in January.
"So you are dealing with people who at this stage are innocent but charged, and it is a serious decision to take someone's freedom off them pending a decision."
Police say it is up to judges to decide who gets bail, and they exercise authority under the terms of the Bail Act.
- NZPA
