Labour promises $59m to ‘tackle drivers of crime’

WELLINGTON: Labour has announced a $59 million law and order reform policy focused on drug and prisoner rehabilitation.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said longterm work to reduce offending and improve rehabilitation would continue if Labour was reelected.

Labour justice spokesman Andrew Little said 30 years of locking more people up for longer had not made communities safe. Instead, it had resulted in a reoffending rate of 61%, he said.

‘‘We need to break the cycle of reoffending, and to do that we must tackle the drivers of crime.

‘‘Victims still struggle to have their voices heard in the criminal justice system and we will work to strengthen their place and ensure their voices are heard,’’ he said.

Labour Corrections spokesman Kelvin Davis said Maori women had high rates of incarceration, but the corrections system had largely been built around the needs of male offenders.

‘‘We know women respond differently to treatment and management and that many women in prison have complex histories of trauma, mental health and addiction issues, family violence and poverty that contribute to their offending,’’ Mr Davis said.

‘‘We need to give women in prison the treatment, skills and support they need to shape better futures for themselves, their children and families. That’s why Labour will implement Wahine Maori Pathways, starting with Christchurch Women’s Prison.’’ — RNZ