KEY POINTS:
Almost half of New Zealanders believe offenders can get away without paying court-ordered fines and reparation, according to a survey on how people perceive the courts.
Courts Minister Rick Barker yesterday released the 2006 report, Public Perceptions of the New Zealand Court System. Researched by AC Nielsen, it shows that overall, people believe the courts system is better and fairer than seven years ago.
However, the report shows 48 per cent of people think that most people who get a fine can get away without paying it, up from 43 per cent in 2003. Fifty-four per cent believe people can get away without paying court-ordered reparation, up from 51 per cent in 2003.
National Party law and order spokesman Simon Power said the finding was worrying. "Last year Labour wrote off more fines and reparation than any Government in recent history - $45 million in fines and $1.6 million in reparation - so is it any wonder people think they are soft on defaulters?"
"What sort of message are we sending to offenders if they know they can get away with not paying up, and how are victims supposed to move on with their lives if reparations ordered by the courts haven't been paid?"
Mr Barker yesterday said performance in the area needed to improve, but the Government had launched several initiatives, including measures to catch fine-dodgers at the airport.
- NZPA
