Family violence laws to be made tougher

Criminals who commit violence against members of their own family will soon be marked as family violence offenders for life, on their records.

The Government will create new offences of non-fatal strangulation, coercion to marry and assault on a family member, which will carry tougher sentences than common assault.

Prime Minister John Key announced a $130 million overhaul of the way family violence is dealt with by the justice system.

The overhaul would see the safety of victims put at the centre of all bail decisions, as well as parenting and property orders.

Tougher penalties would also be enforced for people who committed crimes while subject to a protection order.

Key made the announcement alongside Justice Minister Amy Adams at a function in front of more than 100 high-ranking Government, justice and police officials.

The $130m was new funding, which would help fund 66 new police officers as well as greater support for Child, Youth and Family social workers dealing with extreme family violence.

Key said the Government would not ‘‘shy away’’ from tackling the problem.

‘‘The challenge of reducing family violence lies with all of us, with the Government, the police, social agencies and with everyone who knows that violence is occurring.’’

Police responded to about 110,000 family violence callouts a year and kids were present at nearly two-thirds of these.

‘‘We accept the size of the challenge, this is not something that’s going to resolve itself overnight.

‘‘But I do think we can get substantial change over time.

‘‘In the very short term, we’re likely to see more cases of family violence reported,’’ Key said.

It would ‘‘inevitably’’ lead to more reporting, but once agencies could intervene earlier he hoped that would lead to a nationwide deescalation of these types of crimes.

‘‘New Zealand’s rate of family violence is horrendous. It has a devastating impact on individuals and communities, and a profound impact that can span generations and lifetimes,’’ Adams said.

‘‘Our suite of changes are directed to earlier and more effective interventions. We are focused on better ways to keep victims safe and changing perpetrator behaviour to stop abuse and re-abuse.’’

The reforms would require 53 law changes, across the Domestic Violence Act, Care of Children Act, Sentencing Act, Bail Act, Crimes Act, Criminal Procedure Act and the Evidence Act.

Help would be given to those in need, without them having to go to court. It would also be made easier for protection orders to be applied for; others will allowed to apply on a victim’s behalf.

Changes would also make it easier for police to gather evidence in family violence cases, while less traumatic for victims.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley, who was travelling to Geneva to appear in front of the United Nations, said the package was only part of the change required.

‘‘Laws alone cannot solve New Zealand’s horrific rate of family violence. But they are a cornerstone element in how we respond to confronting family violence.’’

Police Commissioner Mike Bush welcomed the announcement and additional police.

‘‘This is all evidence based – it’s what we’re seeing, but it’s also in international studies. It is right and proper to have appropriate offences for family violence, to provide that consistency and therefore a real deterrence to people. It will help in a number of ways, one – it’s a safety thing for us. We know what we’re going to before we get there,’’ Bush said.

Labour’s sexual and domestic violence spokeswoman Poto Williams said the package was ‘‘all well and good’’, but resources provided to NGOS in the family violence sector had not increased in about 10 years.

‘‘In order for this to work, the Government needs the community sector on board and we would be looking to the Government to resource the sector appropriately.’’