Submissions open on Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill

A Bill designed to protect the public from serious sexual and violent offenders has passed its first reading in Parliament. Submissions are due by 1 November 2013.

The Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill proposes an amendment to allow the High Court to issue a Public Protection Order (PPO) to detain high-risk individuals following their release from jail. Those subject to an order would be held in a secure facility until they are considered to not pose a threat to public safety.

Justice Minister Judith Collins said Public Protection Orders would complement existing measures such as extended supervision orders and preventive detention. Under the Bill:

• People subject to a PPO would be required to live on prison grounds, separate from the main buildings but within the secure perimeter;
• People subject to a PPO would be regularly re-evaluated and could seek court review of their detention at any time. If the individual no longer met the criteria they would be released on a protective supervision order.

It is expected the Bill would apply to between five and 12 offenders in the next decade.

Other recent Bills relating to serious offenders include the Victims' Order Against Violent Offenders Bill currently being considered by Parliament and the Bail Amendment Bill which passed its third reading in August 2013.

New protection orders put public safety first, Beehive, 18.09.2013

Image Khiam detention camp stripped cloth by Mounirzok. Licence Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported