The Government is making it easier for police to punish shoplifters and is introducing stronger penalties for low-level theft.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said that public confidence in the justice system is undermined if people can steal with apparent impunity. He found it disheartening and said that the government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods.
Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished. The government is restoring real consequences for crime, and shoplifting is no exception.
The proposed changes include:
- Introducing an infringement regime for shoplifting in retail premises. For stolen goods valued up to NZD 500, infringement fees will be up to NZD 500. For goods valued over NZD 500, fees will be up to NZD 1,000.
- Strengthening the penalties for theft. The maximum penalties will be one year imprisonment (if the value is approximately NZD 2,000 or less), or seven years imprisonment (if the value is more than NZD 2,000).
- Creating a new aggravated theft offence for when the value of the goods is under NZD 2,000 and the theft is carried out in a manner that is offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly.
“Harsher penalties could mean up to twice as long behind bars for aggravated theft, and criminals will be forced to think twice before destroying more lives,” said Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee.
“Our government is focused on restoring law and order, reducing violent crime, and putting victims first in our justice system. I want to thank the Ministerial Advisory Group and its Chair, Sunny Kaushal, for their work shaping this proposal.”
These changes fulfil a commitment in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement to ensure real consequences for lower-level crimes such as shoplifting.
