Tougher computer laws in force

8.00pm

New laws came into force today carrying sentences of up to seven years jail for computer crime.

The Crimes Amendment Act sets out a raft of new offences which Police Minister George Hawkins said put the law in line with the latest technology.

It is now an offence to access a computer for dishonest purposes, damage or interfere with a computer system, access a computer without authorisation or make, sell, distribute or possess software to commit a crime.

In some instances the Act clarifies existing laws to make sure they cover computer crimes like hacking and sending pornography by computer.

Mr Hawkins said the computer-related offences carried penalties ranging from five to seven years.

The Act also extends the offence of burglary to include the current "entering with intent" offence.

It also introduces the offence of taking, obtaining or copying trade secrets.

Mr Hawkins said the change to the burglary law was like to have an impact on reported crime statistics.

Because the "entering with intent" change, he expected an increase in the overall number of burglaries reported.

- NZPA