New Zealand PM Denies Being Soft on Crime Following Fatal Stabbing in Aggravated Robbery

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media on the White Island volcanic eruption during her post-cabinet press conference at Parliament in Wellington on Dec. 16, 2019. Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has denied accusations that her government has been soft on crime, saying that increased funding for the police had seen an increase in prosecutions.

It comes after a 34-year-old worker, Janak Patel, of a local dairy store, otherwise known as a convenience store, was stabbed in an aggravated robbery in Auckland on Nov. 23.

The worker was transported to the hospital with critical injuries but passed away shortly after.

This sparked renewed accusations that Ardern’s government was soft on crime, but the prime minister noted the number of ram raids had “come down significantly” to around 13 this month.

“We know ram raids have been a problem. That is where we have focused our attention,” she told Radio NZ.

She attributed the fall in ram raid numbers to the higher number of prosecutions and convictions.

Ardern said police force numbers were currently at their largest ever, along with an additional $500 million (US$310 million) funding specifically for the crime prevention unit.

This has given authorities resources to identify 70 young people who are contributing to the problem, some repeatedly. Personalised programs were also established for the young offenders and their families, which has allowed about half to return to education.

“But we know we have to keep doing what we can to ensure people feel safe in their cities,” she said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern answers a question during a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on Oct. 11, 2021. Robert Kitchin/Pool Photo via AP

New Zealand has seen a spike in youth crime. In the first half of 2022, the number of ram raids increased by 518 percent, with the majority being committed by young people under 17.

The government has avoided the punishment of young people through the criminal justice system because it often sets up the person for a life of crime.

This has caused critics to argue that crime has been allowed to run rampant due to the lack of serious consequences.

Ardern said consequences to young offenders had been given through non-court action, and offenders aged 15 and over can still be brought before the court.

“We have not lessened the penalties on any individual crime,” she said.

“Where have you ever heard us say that if you’re a young person and commit a crime that there won’t be consequences for that? There is. All we have ever argued is that when we intervene, let’s make it work.”

Government Sent Signals That Drove ‘Soft on Crime’ Approach, Says Opposition

However, the National party has called on the government to acknowledge the role it has played in the current crime wave.

National’s justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith said while the government has not lessened the individual penalties on individual crimes, it has sent three “powerful signals” to the justice system that drove the “soft on crime approach.”

These include reducing the prison population by 30 percent, regardless of the level of crime, repealing the Three Strikes Act, and encouraging a “culture of excuses.”

Under the three strikes law, an offender would be given “strike” warnings for a list of 40 serious offences. If convicted of a third offence on the list, they would be given a maximum applicable penalty without parole unless considered manifestly unjust by the court.

“Though it might have been well-intentioned, the government’s soft on-crime approach has led to more violence in our communities, a 500 percent increase in ram raids, a sense of impunity amongst offenders and, sadly, more victims of crime,” Goldsmith said.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon addresses members of the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce and media during the annual New Zealand National Party caucus retreat in Queenstown, New Zealand, on Feb. 1, 2022. James Allan/Getty Images

On Nov. 17, the Nationals released their Combating Youth Offending Plan to crack down on serious repeat youth offenders.

Under the plan, a military academy for young offenders will be established in partnership with the defence force to provide discipline, mentoring, and intensive rehabilitation.

Serious repeat offenders will be sent to the military academy or be subject to electronic monitoring or intensive supervision.

It will also support community and non-government organisations to help break the cycle of offending.

“New Zealand’s youth justice system works well for the majority of young offenders; 80 percent of first-time offenders who interact with the youth justice system are dealt with quickly and put back on the right path,” Nationals party leader Christopher Luxon said.

“National’s Combatting Youth Offending Plan targets the most serious repeat young offenders and will disrupt crimes like ram-raids by removing the ringleaders, some of whom have gang connections.”

ACT party leader David Seymour also called on the government to “get tough and smart” on the explosion of retail crime that followed COVID-19.

“We have challenged the government to expedite its retail crime prevention fund, particularly after someone who sought and didn’t get help from it was robbed. That fund has continued at a glacial pace and now needs to be sized up and expedited,” he said.

Community Calls for Change

The fatal stabbing prompted the community of dairies across the country to close from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. local time on Nov. 28 in a bid to push the government to do more against crime.

Hundreds of people, including the stabbing victim’s father, gathered outside Ardern’s office, repeatedly shouting, “we need justice” and “change the law.”

In response, the government announced another package to address retail crime, including a $4,000 (US$2,500) fog cannon subsidy, $4 million to support local council crime prevention programmes, and the expansion of the Retail Crime Prevention to include aggravated robberies.