Over $250k in Wanganui offender levies

Stephen Ross

Wanganui courts have collected more than a quarter of a million dollars in offender levies since the measure was introduced in June 2010.

But while the Government is hailing the initiative a success, one Wanganui lawyer is not so sure.

Ministry of Justice figures show the Whanganui District and High Court raked in $50,660 in the first financial year, $72,380 the following year, $70,480 in 2013 and $58,300 in the most recent financial year.

The offender levy requires all convicted offenders to pay $50 towards services for victims of serious crimes.

As of December 2014, $60,380 in offender levies were outstanding in Wanganui.

The Government believes the scheme has been a success - but Wanganui criminal lawyer Stephen Ross branded it "just another a tax on people who can least afford it".

"Most offenders fit a profile - low socio-economic, deprived," he said.

"The Government should be supporting victims, anyway.

"The levy's just another penalty, an administrative penalty, unrelated to the circumstances of the offending."

The majority of offenders did not understand why the levy was imposed, he said.

"It isn't talked about in court, so most offenders just see it as another part of their fine or penalty."

In response, a spokeswoman for Justice Minister Amy Adams said the levy was an important part of the government's programme to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system through the funding of additional entitlements and services for victims of serious crime.

Nationally, more than $16.5 million has been collected in offender levies in the past four financial years, and 78 per cent of levies had been paid as of December.

A single levy is imposed at each sentencing, irrespective of the number of offences. Offender levies cannot be collected from prisoners but they would be required to pay on release.

Notice of the offender levy is posted at the door to all courtrooms around the country.

The ministry said the money would be used to fund eight additional entitlements and services for victims of serious crime, including an enhanced homicide support service. The service would provide four paid homicide support co-ordinators to work with Victim Support's volunteer network.