The Government is throwing the weight of the justice sector, 22,000 staff and a $3.8 billion budget, behind its crackdown on crime.
The statistics behind the crackdown
The target is that by 2017 the crime rate will be reduced by 15 percent, violent crime by 20 percent, youth crime by five percent and reoffending by 25 percent.
Justice Minister Judith Collins today released details of an "action plan" to achieve those goals.
"We know a lot about crime - where it tends to occur, who it tends to affect, and the underlying factors that contribute to criminal behaviour," she said.
"We're taking what we know and turning it into comprehensive action across the justice and wider social sectors."
Ms Collins says the targets are ambitious because reductions have already been gained and continuing to reduce crime will become more difficult each year.
"We're throwing the weight of the justice sector, 22,000 staff and a budget of $3.8 billion each year, behind these targets - this is about locking in success and keeping crime falling," she said.
Prime Minister John Key says achieving the targets will mean 112,000 fewer crimes, 19,000 fewer violent crimes and 1500 fewer young people appearing in court over the next five years.
Specific actions include:
- Targeting high crime locations
- Providing strong support for people at risk of repeat victimisation
- Improving interventions for vulnerable youth
- Reducing the availability of alcohol
- Increasing the availability of alcohol and drug treatment
- Investing in reintegration and rehabilitation for offenders.
NZN