This week the Government announced that people who assault on-duty police officers, firefighters, paramedics, or prison officers would face longer prison sentences under new criminal offences.
Under the proposed legislation, an existing provision for assaulting police would be expanded to cover paramedics, firefighters and prison officers with a maximum sentence of up to three years’ imprisonment.
Those who assault with intent to injure will face up to five years, while those who injure with intent could receive up to seven years, an offence that will also trigger the Three Strikes regime, requiring mandatory minimum sentences.
This legislation was initially proposed in 2019/2020 by then-NZ First MP Darroch Ball and we met with him to support his efforts.
We provided an extensive submission to the Justice Sector Select committee and appeared in person before them to argue the need for better protection.
Unfortunately, this was rejected in 2020 by Labour and National.
As with anything the details are the key, and we will be asking to meet with the Minister to discuss this.
We will again provide a submission and attend the select committee hearing on this bill to support its introduction and will be lobbying to make sure that any sentence handed down to a prisoner for assault under this bill is cumulative.
Yours in Unity
Floyd du Plessis (President), Glen Jenner (Vice President), Cliff Hughes (National Treasurer) and Paul Dennehy (National Secretary)
