United Future on course for civil-liberties clash

United Future is set to sign off on a harsh law and order policy this month that includes voluntary chemical castration for sex offenders as a pre-condition of parole.

A discussion document by law and order spokesman Marc Alexander also proposes life jail for "heinous" crimes, making drug dealers accomplices to crimes committed by those they supply, and lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12.

Mr Alexander, a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust since it was formed in 2001, said the trust supported his draft policy which would be discussed at a United Future retreat on January 26 and 27 at Upper Hutt.

He expected most policies would be approved by the caucus, which has already had one discussion.

"We have to do this and if it comes out as a watered-down version after our caucus retreat, then I'm going to be bitterly disappointed," Mr Alexander said.

The policy on sex offenders includes voluntary chemical castration would be a pre-condition of parole where it was considered "beneficial".

Multiple violent sex offenders would be remanded in custody for life to a prison or mental institution.

The policy is equally as harsh for drugs. Specialist drugs courts are proposed as well as the abolition of the A, B and C drug classifications to remove the distinction between hard and soft drugs.

Courts would be empowered to offer those arrested for drug possession or trafficking the option of treatment or prison. Relapse of drug use would trigger a mandatory prison term.

Legislation would also be passed making drug dealers accomplices to crimes committed by their "customers" where the link can be reasonably established.

Other features of the policy include:

* Boosting police numbers to 8750 so the per capita rate is similar to the New York policing model.

* Scrapping concurrent sentencing and making sentences cumulative.

* Giving judges discretion to hold parents and guardians financially liable for the crimes of their children.

* Making Parole Board decision-making processes open to scrutiny and subject to appeal by victims.

* Making all court processes public.

Mr Alexander admitted there was an "awful lot of controversial stuff" in the draft policy.

"There's quite a lot of stuff that will get the civil libertarians hopping mad. But if we don't do this we will end up with more and more victims and we'll keep building prisons."

He envisaged the policy becoming the starting point for post-election negotiations with a major party.

But his bottom line would be a strong "victims first" approach to criminal justice.

Tough measures United Future's draft law and order policy:

Voluntary chemical castration for sex offenders as a pre-condition of parole.

Life jail terms for "heinous" crimes.

Making drug dealers accomplices to crimes committed by people they supply with drugs.

Lowering age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12.

Specialist drug courts and abolishing current drug classifications to remove the distinction between hard and soft drugs.

Scrapping all concurrent sentences; sentencing to be cumulative.

Parole Board decisions subject to appeal by victims.