What the parties say about law and order

LABOUR

Will expand the use of DNA testing to burglary suspects and serious offenders already in prison and extend victims' rights. Have increased police numbers and tightened bail law for repeat offenders. Reduced burglary to 20-year low and all crime to 13-year low. Reformed sentencing and parole laws.

NATIONAL

Will increase minimum standard sentence for murder from 10 to 15 years, and allow a true life sentence for worst murderers, tighten eligibility for parole for other violent offenders to two-thirds of sentence, boost frontline police by 500, and confiscate drug-dealers' assets if they can't prove they were lawfully acquired.

GREENS

Supports restorative justice pilot programmes which involve healing victims and wider options for dealing with offenders, marae-based justice, a moratorium on all new prisons, and expansion of the diversion scheme.


ACT

Supports zero tolerance to policing minor crime like graffiti and shoplifting, would abolish early release and parole for prisoners, establish degrees of murder and enforce true life sentences for 1st degree murder, require compulsory DNA samples from all people convicted of an imprisonable offence, and end family group conferences for youth offenders.

NZ FIRST

Minimum 10 years' jail for third offence with jail term or community service sentence, prisoners to get remission for hard labour, six months' jail for drink-drivers convicted more than twice in 10 years, mandatory DNA samples for all people arrested, police able to use electronic surveillance of suspects with approval from Police Commissioner rather than judge.

PROGRESSIVE COALITION

Wants emphasis on combating root causes of crime and violence, acknowledgment by offenders of the harm of their crime, greater co-operation between relevant agencies to prevent crime, to make prisons more effective in prevention of reoffending, and to address high rate of Maori imprisonment.

ALLIANCE

Supports restorative justice to reduce crime rate. Will make victims' emotional and material needs central in justice system. Emphasis on preventing crime. Ensure adequate and affordable access for all to legal advice and representation.

UNITED FUTURE

Will increase funding for early intervention, such as parenting programmes and diversion programmes for youth at risk, increase support for victims of crime, legislate to crack down on internet child pornography, and require courts to make public safety the first consideration in bail decisions.

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