By AUDREY YOUNG, political editor
Don Brash yesterday made National the new party of law and order, promising that a government led by him would keep most prisoners in jail for their full sentences.
The National leader did not support "flogging" inmates, but said his party could consider introducing hard labour for them.
He did not favour execution of prisoners, he told a Sensible Sentencing Trust meeting of about 800 at Ellerslie when asked about the death penalty, but added: "Maybe if my daughter was murdered I would feel differently."
Dr Brash described parole as "a failed experiment".
"The next National government will abolish parole as we know it."
Only first-time and non-violent offenders would be eligible for parole.
"It's their one chance."
But others - about 85 per cent of prisoners on present statistics - would serve their full term and face possible supervision at the end of it. In one piece of good news for inmates, he said abolishing parole would not be applied retrospectively to present prisoners.
The party estimates the parole policy would boost New Zealand's 6100 prison population by 50 per cent.
The extra prisons it would take to accommodate National's hard-line policy - about four or five - could cost $1 billion to build and an extra $300 million a year to run after five years. Dr Brash said they might be privately run to minimise costs.
National also promised mandatory DNA testing of all arrested people, greater use of preventive detention to keep repeat violent offenders indefinitely in prison, and a law requiring suspected organised gang criminals to establish their assets have been legally acquired.
Other plans include more resources to combat methamphetamine crime, offenders to be allowed only two family group conferences before being referred to the Youth Court, and the age for a criminal to be reduced from 14 to 12.
Preventive detention needed to deal with offenders who had no respect for the community and whose actions left one choice, "lock them up and throw away the key".
Dr Brash said he personally favoured public parole hearings for the few offenders who might qualify.
"Our message to criminals is clear. We mean business."
He expected reoffending rates to fall substantially as a result of the policy.
He would not join the "auction" of promising a certain number of extra police officers but said it would be addressed within three months of National's becoming government.
"And whatever is required will be delivered."
Dr Brash said a disproportionate number of criminals sprang from homes dependent on welfare, and welfare reform policy would be outlined at another time.
Under questioning later, Dr Brash did not rule out hard labour for repeat offenders - and perhaps making money at the same time.
"For people going back for a second, third and fourth prison term, it seems to me we should look at making the regime in prison a bit less attractive than it is now. I think if prisoners could make some profit from hard labour, that would be great."
Under National's previous election policy, violent offenders would not have been eligible for parole until they had served two-thirds of their sentence, and non-violent offenders 50 per cent.
Dr Brash's speech has drawn condemnation from the Government and civil liberties advocates.
Corrections Minister Paul Swain said National talked tough in Opposition but had done nothing during nine years in office.
He defended the Government's record on addressing crime, saying it was indisputable that prisoners released under parole conditions offended less than those who served a full sentence.
The longest sentence handed down in New Zealand - 30 years non-parole to Mt Wellington RSA murderer William Bell - was under tougher sentencing and parole laws passed by the Labour-led Government. "You just can't trust National. 'Abolish parole' will probably turn out to be like 'abolish the surcharge' or 'abolish student fees'."
The average prison population in 2003 was 6100 and is forecast to rise to 7400 by 2010, largely through longer sentences.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said it was not good enough to say what was wrong but not spell out the resources required.
"Where are the extra police staff? How many extra?"
Progressive Party deputy leader Matt Robson, a former Corrections Minister, said voters would "gulp at the audacity" of Dr Brash's spending plans on extra prisons.
"We need jobs, education and training, not prisons on every corner."
The New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties yesterday launched a campaign titled "Truth in Justice", arguing that the media and politicians distort crime.
Chairman Michael Bott said it was important to discuss law and order issues, but the debate had to be based on fact and not people's fears.
"There are a lot of people and groups with an incentive to create fear and hysteria around this issue."
No second chances for criminals, vows Brash
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