KEY POINTS:
National has announced it will set up a compensation scheme for victims if it becomes Government at this year's election.
National Party Leader John Key said the victims' policies were part of a wider law and order package.
"Victims of crime have been neglected for too long," Mr Key said.
"It's time we gave them the support they deserve. A National Government will re-empower victims of crime."
Key planks of the policy were:
* A Victim Compensation Scheme (VCS) funded by a levy of about $50 on all offenders at sentencing. It would help victims with one-off expenses not covered by ACC or other state help, such as travel to court and additional counselling;
* any compensation paid to prisoners that did not go directly to victims would go into the VCS;
* a Victims Services Centre coordinating agencies and administering the VCS would be set up within the Ministry of Justice.
* change the Victim Notification Register, to be maintained by the new centre, so victims can be notified of any developments if they wish;
* review the Victims Rights Act 2002 to ensure victims' rights are recognised across the justice system including ensuring access to support services and improving the victim impact statement system.
Mr Key said Labour had made promises to help victims but had not acted.
"I want to eliminate the all-too-frequent horror stories where victims are forced to re-live a traumatic event simply because the system has been deficient or has let them down, and where it seems offenders are getting a better deal than victims."
- NZPA
