The government has clamped down on retail crime by giving businesses more power to deter those stealing from them.
This is just the first suite of initiatives the Ministerial Advisory Group has put forward for the government to implement regarding retail crime.
“Retail crime increased 85 percent between 2019 and 2023, including a 91 per cent increase in victimisations relating to theft. No one, including retailers and security guards, is protected from civil or criminal liability if they arrest and detain a person stealing goods valued at less than NZD 1,000 during the day,” said Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.
“The operation of the Crimes Act 1961 hinders people from stopping offending as it occurs right in front of them. This initial package of reforms, put forward by the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, will give Kiwi businesses additional tools to deal with those that are robbing them of their livelihood and economic growth.”
These reforms include:
- Amending the Crimes Act so that citizens can intervene to stop any Crimes Act offence at any time of the day.
- Requiring that a person making an arrest contact Police and follow Police instructions.
- Clarifying that restraints can be used, when reasonable, when making an arrest.
- Changing the defence of property provisions to the Crimes Act so it is clear that reasonable force may be used.
- Goldsmith said that the economic cost of retail crime in New Zealand was in the billions, and retailers and security guards faced abuse and assault that no New Zealander should be subjected to.
He added that the government will ensure that people working in the retail sector are effectively protected, are empowered to stop offending, and that offenders are caught and deterred from future offending.
“About 230,000 New Zealanders work in the retail sector. Increasingly, they are experiencing the personal and economic trauma of violent and theft-related crimes. The impact of crime on this group can have flow-on effects for their families and wider communities,” said Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee,
“We established the advisory group to provide first-hand insight into the issues being faced by Kiwi retailers on the ground. The group's recommendations are sensible reforms that will enable retail offenders to be more readily stopped and deterred from future offending.”
