Introduction | Framework Diagram | Selection of Priority Areas and At Risk Groups | Strategies and Actions | Local Partnerships

Strategies and Actions

The priority areas are addressed by a range of strategies and actions. Some of these are in development, some are currently being implemented, and others need to be updated or expanded.

Comprehensive strategies which are currently being implemented include:
Te Rito: The Family Violence Prevention Strategy (http://www.msd.govt.nz/work-areas/families-whanau/te-rito/te-rito.html), which addresses the family violence and child abuse priority;
The Road Safety Strategy to 2010 which addresses the serious traffic offending priority; and
Te Haonga: The Youth Offending Strategy, which addresses the youth offending priority.

The other priority areas have a range of strategies and initiatives being developed or already underway to address them.

New Zealand Police play a pivotal role in addressing all of the Crime Reduction Strategy priority areas. For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

The Government’s key initiatives and actions progressing in each area are summarised under each priority area heading:

1. Family violence and child abuse
2. Other violence and sexual violence
3. Serious traffic offending
4. Youth offending and reoffending
5. Burglary
6. Theft of and from cars
7. Organised crime

Family Violence and Child Abuse

Te Rito - New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy
As part of the Ministry of Social Development’s policy and service development work to improve child and family safety and security, Te Rito - New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy was launched in February 2002. Te Rito sets out the Government’s key goals and objectives, guiding principles and a five-year implementation plan to maximise progress toward the vision of families/whänau living free from violence.

The Te Rito National Executive was established in June 2002 to monitor the progress of the five-year Te Rito strategy and maintain cross-sector commitment to its implementation. The National Executive was re-configured in November 2002 to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. It is now a two-tiered structure comprising the Small Executive Group made up of combined government and non-government representatives, and a wider group comprising all interested representatives of family violence organisations. The key roles of the Small Executive Group are governance (including strategic vision), accountability, risk management and advocacy, including providing the Te Rito six monthly reports to Cabinet.

Te Rito was developed as a living and developing document, and has been refocused in 2004 to enhance the progress towards achieving the vision, goals and objectives of Te Rito and to better complement other initiatives underway to address child and family safety and security issues. For 2004/05 the priority action areas are: service capacity (area of action 9) and: improving inter-agency co-ordination, collaboration and communication (area of action 14).

The following table provides an overview of the progress on Te Rito action areas:

Action Area	Status
1 Mechanism to promote cross-sector commitment and consistency and to monitor progress of Te Rito	Completed. A governance and monitoring body has been established comprising of government and NGO members.
2 Prioritise Mäori-based approaches; early intervention and prevention; and evaluation	A report was completed in October 2003. Recommendations have been directed to the appropriate Te Rito areas of action.
3 Process to monitor and enforce legal sanctions	A steering group has been established. Work is progressing and is due for completion by June 2006.
4 Consistency in relevant law, policy and service delivery	Due to start in June 2004.
5 Plan of action for preventing violence in Mäori communities	The Ministerial Maori Taskforce on Family Violence appointed by Hon Tariana Turia produced a report in September 2002 entitled Whanau Violence: A Maori Conceptual Framework. This report has been distributed, and consulted on, as part of the whanau development hui process held between 11 August and 8 December 2003. TPK is continuing to work with Maori Taskforce members regarding whanau violence issues in the context of whanau development. TPK is funding the Project Mauriora initiative from its Direct Resourcing Fund to implement the Maori Conceptual Framework. Funding has been approved to implement Project Mauriora. Through pilots, the project is aimed at promoting “Zero Tolerance of Maori whanau violence” through building the capability of Maori practitioners to provide culturally appropriate interventions to victims, perpetrators and their whanau.
6 Strategy for preventing and/or reducing violence in Pacific communities	A framework for preventing family violence in Pacific communities was completed in June 2003. An action plan for the framework has been completed and will be implemented this year.
7 Policy for provision of programmes and services to non-mandated clients	Completed. Budget 2003 provided funding for programmes and services to non-mandated and non-protected clients. CYF is implementing the policy initiative.
8 Research and evaluation programme	Budget 2003 provided funding for the establishment of a research and best practice information service to co-ordinate, promote and disseminate information on family violence. Funding was also approved for nationally-based NGOs to develop and maintain datasets on family violence.
9 Service capacity	Key gaps and issues have been identified and an action plan is being developed. Close connections have been maintained with the Family Violence Funding Circuit Breaker, which will provide an opportunity to develop accurate local level information on current services and service gaps (see also area of action 14). This action area has been identified as a key priority for 2004, and is closely aligned with the Blueprint action area on workforce development (action area 8)
10 Enhance screening and risk assessment	Police has recently completed a report that summarises the screening and risk assessment mechanisms that are being used by government and non-government agencies that work with children and families to identify family violence. The findings of this report, along with recommendations for future action, will be presented to Ministers by June 2004.
11 Standards/competencies, best practice guidelines and mechanisms to maintain competence	Key gaps and issues are being identified and a review of best practice guidelines is underway.
12 Improve access to a range of services	This action identified service needs for a wide range of specific population groups. The focus in 2003 has been on identifying the service needs for ethnic groups and refugee/migrants. A discussion paper informed by research and a consultation proves has been developed.
13 Public education and awareness	A Family Violence Prevention Public Education Framework is currently being completed and will be implemented from early 2004.
14 Improve interagency co-ordination, collaboration and communication	Budget 2003 provided funding over four years to establish a contestable fund for community-based collaborative initiatives to prevent family violence and to undertake a four year evaluation programme. A second project that is closely linked is the Family Violence Funding Circuit Breaker (started in 2000). It aligns government funding processes across government agencies in consultation with providers, NGO funders, iwi and community. The first stage of regional implementation is now commencing across 14 regions. This is a priority action area for 2004/05.
15 Enhance capacity of Maori, Pacific and other ethnic service providers	This action is being progressed through initiatives identified by CYF, MSD, MPIA and TPK for Maori, Pacific and other ethnic service providers. Te Rito has an overview and monitoring role.
16 Enhance parent education and support services	MSD provided advice to the Minister for Social Development and Employment on the development of a co-ordinated early intervention system for at risk families with children aged 0 to 5 years in February 2004. This action area will be subsumed with the Early Intervention work programme.
17 Promote and increase child advocacy services	MSD established a project group consisting of government and NGO members in December 2003 to begin scoping the focus of the project. Meetings have been held in Wellington and Auckland to define and scope the project.
18 Expand and improve home, community, pre-school and school based services and programmes	This action area has been subsumed within the Early Intervention work programme.

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

Other Violence and Sexual Violence

Action Plan to Reduce Community Violence and Sexual Violence
The Ministry of Justice has recently developed an Action Plan to Reduce Community Violence and Sexual Violence to address this priority area. The Action Plan, which will be released shortly by the Minister of Justice, includes a number of actions in key areas, focusing on:

violence in public places
alcohol related violence
sexual violence
attitudes to violence

The Action Plan

Improving the management of known sex offenders
The Ministry of Justice is leading work to improve the management of known sex offenders:

A best practice model for inter-agency cooperation in the management of child sex offenders in the community is being trialed in Dunedin, the ‘Dunedin Best Practice Model’.
The Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Amendment Bill, currently being considered by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee, will introduce an extended supervision regime for sex offenders who offend against children (child sex offenders). The extended supervision regime is aimed at managing the long-term risks posed by higher risk child sex offenders who are no longer subject to release conditions or recall from parole. Offenders subject to an extended supervision order will be supervised for up to 10 years after the end of their parole or release conditions. The Bill also contains provisions that will allow extended supervision orders to be made in respect of offenders who were in prison or subject to release conditions at the time the Bill was introduced to Parliament.

Police Strategies to Reduce Violence
The Police Violence Reduction Strategy covers all kinds of violence and focuses police action on homes, streets and schools. Specific initiatives include Kia Kaha Anti-Bullying programme, the Keeping Ourselves Safe Sexual Abuse prevention programme, work to reduce gang violence, Child Abuse Teams, Sexual Abuse Teams, Liquor licensing support, and assisting local authorities with crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED).

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

Serious Traffic Offending

Road Safety to 2010 Strategy
In September 2002 the Minister of Transport announced the government’s road safety goal of reducing fatalities to no more than 300 and hospitalisations to no more than 4500 each year, by 2010. Since then, work has been underway on implementing an initial package of initiatives with the aim of achieving a 2004 road safety target of no more than 400 fatalities. Progress updates on implementation are available on the LTSA website.

The Road Safety to 2010 strategy document, published in October 2003, has serious traffic offending as one of its priorities for action. The strategy provides direction for road safety interventions to 2010, and details goals for social cost, fatalities and hospitalisations to 2010. It also shows overall social cost, fatality and hospitalisation outcomes (targets) for 2004 as well as intermediate and user group outcomes for 2004. Intermediate outcome targets indicate how well individual interventions are working in key areas. The strategy, and associated documents can also be viewed at the above website.

In December 2003, the Minister of Transport announced a package of enforcement initiatives targeting serious traffic offending. These initiatives supplement the mandatory roadside vehicle impoundment and licence suspension sanctions introduced in 1999, and include:

immediate roadside licence suspension for exceeding the permanent posted speed limit by 40km/hour. Currently roadside licence suspension applies to those caught exceeding the speed limit by 50km/hour.
drink drivers with blood alcohol levels of 130mg/100ml or higher will immediately lose their licence for 28 days. This penalty currently kicks in at 160mg/100ml.
a “three-strikes and you're out” scheme for drink drivers, including licence suspension for committing two offences within a four year period and roadside vehicle impoundment for drink drivers committing three offences within a four year period.
further work on alcohol ignition interlocks that immobilise the vehicles of repeat drink drivers if they have been drinking.

The Road Safety to 2010 strategy was prepared under the direction of the National Road Safety Committee, which includes the chief executive officers of the Land Transport Safety Authority, Ministry of Transport, NZ Police, Transit NZ, Transfund NZ, ACC and Local Government New Zealand. Partner organisations are responsible for implementing the strategy and for monitoring its success. Regular evaluations will be undertaken to continually improve current programmes and inform new initiatives.

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

Youth Offending and Reoffending

Te Haonga: The Youth Offending Strategy (YOS), released in April 2002, was the Government’s response to the Ministerial Taskforce on Youth Offending.
The Taskforce affirmed the statutory framework of the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 as a sound basis for a world class youth justice system in New Zealand. However, it found the need for an increased emphasis in terms of:
1. significant improvements in practice,
2. continued support and participation in early intervention and prevention initiatives, and
3. targeted interventions at key risk factors along the offending cycle.
The Strategy identified 73 recommendations for specific actions, grouped under 7 key focus areas (KFAs) that required attention to improve the operation of the youth justice system. Effective action in these areas would prevent offending by children and young people, and reduce their reoffending, by:
Supporting the system

New infrastructure – a coherent national approach to deliver more effective services (KFA 1)
Better information to improve practice and policy (KFA 2)

Prevention before offending

Coordinated early intervention with children and young people at risk to reduce risk factors that can lead to criminality (KFAs 3 & 4)

Responses after offending

Effective interventions to reduce reoffending through appropriate and proportionate responses to offending in the youth justice system (KFAs 5 & 6)
Through intensive interventions with serious recidivist young offenders (KFA 7)

Key activities in the implementation of the YOS to date include the establishment of:

Thirty Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) comprising Police, CYF, Health and Education managers and practitioners, that report monthly on their activities, any problems arising and solutions developed
A Youth Justice Leadership Group (YJLG) to support and improve inter-agency practice and to ensure delivery of the Youth Offending Strategy
An Independent Advisory Group (IAG) for the Strategy which meets 2-3 times per year

New programmes to address offending:

The Reducing Youth Offending Programme is now operational, providing community based Multi Systemic Therapy for high risk offenders referred from the Youth and District Courts in Christchurch and Auckland
A Specialist Youth Services Programme provides a community programme for moderate risk offenders at 8 sites
Te Hurihanga, a residential facility and community based programme for youths who would otherwise go to prison, is under development and due to be operational in 2005
Fourteen Community Youth Projects have been established in 5 high crime areas funded by the Crime Prevention Unit and Police to intervene earlier with young people who are less serious offenders or are at risk of offending

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

Burglary

There is a comprehensive range of activity underway across the Justice Sector to reduce burglary. Activity is focused on targeting repeat locations ('hot spots') and repeat burglars, and on reducing the opportunity to profit from burglary.
Police-led operational initiatives include:

burglary action plans in local areas, covering prevention, information, analysis, problem solving and enforcement activities
increased use of intelligence-led policing including increased use of criminal informers and extended interviewing of known offenders,
increased use of mapping technology to analyse local crime patterns and trends, and
disrupting networks for distribution of stolen goods.

Government is also funding a Victim Support ‘target hardening’ initiative to install security measures for repeat victims of burglary who would not otherwise be able to afford them, and programmes are being implemented around the country by the Crime Prevention Unit’s local crime prevention partnerships, as a response to repeat burglaries of homes and communities.

Legislative changes which are expected to have an impact on reducing burglary include:

new Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) legislation, which enables the collection of DNA evidence from offenders committing a wider range of offences including burglary, and
new Secondhand dealers and Pawnbrokers legislation introducing a tougher licensing and certification regime on dealers, and increasing penalties for non-compliance, making it more difficult for stolen goods to be bought or sold.

The Ministry of Justice is undertaking three projects evaluating burglary initiatives:

a large scale evaluation of police practices relating to burglary, taking place over three years, and being undertaken in conjunction with Police,
an evaluation of the Victim Support target hardening initiative, and
the development of an evaluation framework for the assessment of Neighbourhood Based Safety Projects.

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

Theft of and From Cars

The Ministry of Justice and NZ Police are currently developing a new National Vehicle Crime Reduction Programme (NVCRP). This programme will consist of a range of initiatives designed to reduce both opportunistic and professional thieves, by improving the security on cars and in carparks, and by improving data and information systems so that vehicles can be tracked more easily. It will include initiatives at both a national and a local level. The new NVCRP will be developed by the end of 2004.

Existing Police initiatives include local vehicle crime action plans, targeting repeat offenders, repeat victims and problem locations, through systematic and directed patrol activities, surveillance operations, increasing intelligence efforts and targeting of unlicensed wreckers and dealers.

The Crime Prevention Unit’s local crime prevention partnerships have implemented successful car theft reduction initiatives around the country, including improving the physical environment or increasing security in carparks to make theft more difficult, and reducing theft through the use of technology (CCTV) or security guards.

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.

Organised Crime

The Ministry of Justice and NZ Police are working together to develop a new intersectoral Organised Crime Strategy that will build upon existing strategies and initiatives to reduce organised crime. The following summary provides an overview of some of the Government’s activities in the area.
Organised criminal groups are most commonly involved in theft and burglary, drug dealing and manufacturing, theft and ‘re-birthing’ of motor vehicles, and intimidation and violence offences. More organised crime groups are also becoming involved in professional crime.
Existing initiatives focus on repeat offenders, victims and locations:

offenders are targeted through the use of criminal informers, undercover operations, removing gang fortifications, and enhancing forensic services including electronic crime forensics and DNA sampling; and
victims are supported through Victims Support and the Witness Protection Programme;
locations are targeted using electronic tracking and recording, surveillance teams, and clandestine laboratory teams.

Specific interventions also include Port and Border control, the Cannabis Eradication programme, and the Identity Fraud project. Contributing to reducing organised crime is the work of the Proceeds of Crime Units, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the National Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, Interpol, the Combined Law Agency Group, drug squads, organised crime squads and fraud squads.

More information can be obtained on the Police Criminal Investigation Branch website.

New legislation that will impact on organised crime:

the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Act 2003, the Summary Proceedings Amendment Act 2003, and the Crimes Amendment (No 2) Act 2003 include significant enhancements to law enforcement powers against organised crime
the passage of the Crimes Amendment (No 6) Bill has updated the Crimes Act in relation to new technology, computer offences, and interception warrant powers;
the Telecommunication (Interception Capability) Bill, enables new kinds of communications to be intercepted; and
further amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 expand the current investigative and search powers of Customs and Police officers in regard to controlled drugs and precursor substances.

The Crimes Amendment (No 6) Bill and the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill respond to rapid advances in electronic communications that enable technology to be used an increasingly sophisticated tool in the hands of both offenders and law enforcement agencies.

A review of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1991 will look at how the assets of suspected criminals can be confiscated more easily, to reduce their profits and therefore reduce the incentives associated with crime.

New Zealand is part of the OECD-linked Financial Action Task Force that develops standards against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

The National Drug Policy includes projects, such as the Methamphetamine Action Plan (http://www.ndp.govt.nz/policy/policy01.html), that will also have an impact on organised crime. Activities include demand reduction, supply control and problem limitation, (i.e. prevention, enforcement and treatment).

Methamphetamine has been reclassified from Class B2 to Class A under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This can result in a life sentence for offenders found guilty of importing, manufacturing and supplying the drug. It also gives Police increased powers to search and seize without a warrant where they have reasonable suspicion that Methamphetamine is present.

For more detail on specific NZ Police strategies and actions see the NZ Police Statement of Intent.