Politicians should not cave in to ‘hard on crime’ line

WELLINGTON: Former National MP Chester Borrows has called on politicians not to bow to public sentiment to be ‘‘tough on crime’’ or give kneejerk reactions to individual horrific crimes, as National had done in 2012.

Mr Borrows, a former police officer and National MP until 2017, is the chairman of Justice Minister Andrew Little’s new advisory group on criminal justice, which will report back early next year.

Mr Borrows was courts minister in the National Government, but has made no secret that he has a different view from many National MPs on the ‘‘hard on crime’’ line.

Speaking at the launch of the group at Parliament yesterday, he said it was not ‘‘politically bound’’ so could explore areas politicians steered clear of in case they were not palatable to the public.

National Party leader Simon Bridges has already criticised Mr Little’s plans to reform bail and parole laws, saying it would put the public at greater risk.

Mr Borrows said it was tempting for political parties to take the ‘‘hard on crime’’ line for political reasons but it did not make good law.

‘‘It’s a fishhook for political parties that they want to be seen to be doing something.

‘‘You’ve always got a Budget or an election around the corner. Thankfully this group won’t have to worry about that.’’

He said that behind closed doors he had argued against National’s overhaul of bail laws after a campaign to toughen them following the murder of Christie Marceau in 2011.

‘‘Yes, I did but as you can tell you don’t always win the argument.’’

Mr Little is also planning a summit in August as he prepares reforms which he said were aimed at reducing offences and repeat offending.

National MPs would be invited.

‘‘But their rhetoric so far indicates the approach they are taking.’’

He was hopeful for an ‘‘adult conversation’’ about it.

National justice spokesman Mark Mitchell said the summit was ‘‘public relations exercise’’ aimed at justifying a ‘‘soft on crime’’ approach.

He said the outcome of the process was predetermined as shown by the decision to downscale the planned prison rebuild at Waikeria.

‘‘If the summit was genuinely about looking at ways to reduce crime, then National would support that, but all the talk from this Government so far has been focused on having fewer prisoners, rather than fewer victims.’’

While the Sensible Sentencing Trust does not have a representative on the new panel, former trust member Ruth Money is on it. The group also includes Dr Warren Young, Prof Tony Ward, Prof Tracey McIntosh, Dr Carwyn Jones and Dr Jarrod Gilbert. More members were to be appointed. — NZME

❛ It’s a fishhook for political parties that they want to be seen to be doing something

Chester Borrows