Policies to tackle youth crime are succeeding with the number of children and young people appearing in New Zealand’s courts dropping by more than 60 percent since 2007/8, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

In the 2007/08 financial year, 4998 children and young people (10-16 year olds) appeared in youth courts. By the 2014/15 financial year, this had dropped by almost 61 per cent to 1959.

Ms Adams says the Government remains committed to driving down youth crime.

New Zealanders have supported the Government’s call for new and bold ways to address family violence, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

Ms Adams today released a summary of the submissions received during a public consultation about the Government’s comprehensive review of family violence laws.

The summary details the range and strength of views on the ideas the public discussion document released last August, as well as additional ideas raised in the submissions.

The threat of losing the right to drive has seen an extra $43.5 million in unpaid fines collected in the last two years, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

A Driver Licence Stop Order (DLSO) can be imposed on anyone who fails to pay traffic-related fines imposed by a Court, Police or local government authority – or reparations imposed by a Court for traffic-related offences.

An independent committee’s latest report on reducing family violence has highlighted that Government efforts are on the right track, say Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

The Family Violence Death Review Committee, which conducts independent reviews on family violence related deaths, has today released its fifth report. The report recommendations largely endorse the work of the Ministerial Group on Family and Sexual Violence.

In response to speculation in media today about David Bain’s compensation claim, Justice Minister Amy Adams said:

“I can confirm that I have received Mr Callinan’s report. In accordance with the agreed process, parties now have an opportunity to provide any further information they wish me to consider in respect of the report.

“I will not begin consideration of Mr Callinan’s report and the advice I will take to Cabinet, until I have that information.

Victims of sexual violence and their families are receiving financial grants and support services thanks to the Government’s Offender Levy, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The $50 levy, which generated more than $3.6 million in the 2014/15 financial year, is imposed on all offenders at the point of sentencing.

“The Offender Levy generates funds that help ease some of the financial and emotional pressures faced by victims of serious crime. It also ensures offenders contribute to addressing the harm their offending has caused,” says Ms Adams.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the law managing returning offenders is helping keep New Zealanders safe.

The law passed by Parliament in November 2015 to manage deported criminals has resulted in approximately 70 per cent of all deportees who have arrived since that date being supervised by New Zealand authorities.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has today tabled the Law Commission’s report on modernising New Zealand’s Extradition and Mutual Assistance laws.

The report is a first principles review of the Extradition Act and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, which enable New Zealand authorities to co-operate with other countries to investigate and prosecute crime.

New Zealand has been reaffirmed as one of the top countries in the world for low corruption levels, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

In Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index released today, New Zealand was ranked fourth out of 167 countries on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector.

“Our ranking reflects the good systems we have in place for investigating and exposing corruption in the public sector. What’s more, we’ve demonstrated a zero-tolerance for corruption and bribery,” Ms Adams says.

A new disclosure scheme will make it easier for Police to disclose a person’s violent criminal past to a concerned partner or friend.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Judith Collins welcomed the new Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme as the latest in a series of improvements and new services available to family violence victims.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the scheme will help reduce the incidents of family violence in the home and potentially save lives.

Three new Law Commissioners appointed

Justice Minister Amy Adams today announced the appointment of Douglas White QC, Donna Buckingham and Helen McQueen as new members of the Law Commission, each for a term of five years.

“Between them, these three new appointees have a tremendous depth of experience and know-how, and bring a fresh perspective to one of the justice sector’s most important policy institutions,” Ms Adams says.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has welcomed two Law Commission reports on how the justice system responds to victims of sexual violence and on the use of classified and security-sensitive information in civil court proceedings.

Ms Adams says the Government will consider the recommendations of both reports and respond in due course.

Agencies are taking steps to ensure an effective response to the growing problem of cybercrime with the establishment of a new interagency cybercrime plan.

“In a changing world where online security is an issue, we need to be on the front foot against cybercrime” says Justice and Communications Minister Amy Adams.

The cybercrime plan is part of the Government’s refreshed Cyber Security Strategy, launched in Auckland today by Ms Adams.

Supermarkets will be able to sell low and non-alcohol beer alongside regular beer under a new Bill introduced to Parliament by Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Display of Low-alcohol Beverages and Other Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill 2015 makes two minor technical changes to New Zealand’s alcohol legislation.

Under the 2013 alcohol reforms, alcohol displays and promotions can only be in a single area in supermarkets and grocery stores, to help limit how much shoppers are exposed to them.

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the launch of New Zealand’s fourteenth Rangatahi Court in Taupō today.

Te Kooti Rangatahi ki Tūwharetoa was launched at Rauhoto Marae, Taupō.

Ms Adams says the Rangatahi Courts are focused on addressing offending by young Māori by involving communities in the youth justice process and encouraging strong cultural links.

“I welcome the ongoing expansion of the Rangatahi Courts, which attempt to create a different environment for young offenders,” Ms Adams says.

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has acknowledged New Zealand’s courts for their hard work in 2015.

“There’s a lot of work underway to modernise our court system and this year we’ve made some good progress. In particular there’s been a huge improvement in the way courts services are managed and improving these services for the public,” Ms Adams says.

New Zealand has reinforced its commitment to combating corruption by ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Convention is a legally binding global agreement to address corruption in the private and public spheres.

“While New Zealand already has a strong reputation for having low levels of corruption, we cannot be complacent. We have broadly complied with the Convention for a number of years, but we needed to make a limited number of law changes before we could ratify it,” says Ms Adams.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcome a pilot by frontline Police staff in Palmerston North to record victim video statements using their iPhone 6+ at the scene of certain family violence incidents.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has asked the Law Commission to begin three new projects in 2016.

These are to review the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 and the Declaratory Judgments Act 1908.

White Ribbon Day highlights the need for a continued focus on helping to reduce family and sexual violence, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The theme for this year’s White Ribbon campaign focuses on respectful relationships between men and women, ‘consent’ as a necessary requirement of all sexual relationships, and challenging attitudes and behaviour around violence against women.

New powers to monitor and supervise returning offenders have received wide-spread support in Parliament following the passing of a new Bill, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill passed its Third Reading unopposed in Parliament today.

“This is balanced and proportionate legislation that will mean returning offenders who arrive in New Zealand shortly after being released from prison will be subject to the same sort of oversight as offenders who served a similar sentence here,” says Ms Adams.

A new Bill to pass under urgency will give authorities the power to assess and supervise offenders returning to our shores, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

The Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill introduced by the Government is a key measure in a suite of initiatives to strengthen oversight of deported offenders.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced that a new Chief Electoral Officer is to be sought following the expiry of Robert Peden's five-year term.

Mr Peden has advised the Minister he will not be reapplying for the role.