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Plans to amend the Crimes Act 1961 have been announced based on recommendations by the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime. | Source: The New Zealand Herald/Dean Purcell
Plans to amend the Crimes Act 1961 have been announced based on recommendations by the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime. | Source: The New Zealand Herald/Dean Purcell

Retailers dismiss new crime laws as 'extremely dangerous'

Retailers have expressed dismay over proposed changes to crime legislation in New Zealand.

Plans to amend the Crimes Act 1961 have been announced based on recommendations by the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime.

These reforms include amending legislation so that New Zealand citizens can intervene to stop any offence at any time of the day. Industry representative Retail NZ claims these amendments would allow employees, security guards, and members of the public to detain alleged offenders.

Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young said these changes would place more people in harm’s way and dismissed them as extremely dangerous.

“This is extremely dangerous – people will get hurt or even killed,” she said.

Carolyn Young, CEO of Retail NZ
Carolyn Young, CEO of Retail NZ
"As employers, retailers must do everything they can to keep staff safe under the Health & Safety at Work Act."
Carolyn Young, Retail NZ

“Frontline retail workers, who are often young people in their first job, do not go to work to do law enforcement. Retail NZ’s focus remains on training retail workers and security personnel in prevention and de-escalation.”

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said retail crime increased 85 per cent between 2019 and 2023. said retail crime increased 85 per cent between 2019 and 2023.

Young is a member of the group responsible for these recommendations. She said most of her association’s members strongly oppose the proposals.

“As employers, retailers must do everything they can to keep staff safe under the Health & Safety at Work Act,” Young continued.

“Most retailers train their staff to prioritise their own safety rather than try to recover stolen goods. We cannot condone retail workers putting themselves into dangerous and volatile situations.”

She continued: “We understand that all retailers are frustrated with the level of crime in their stores. However, we believe that preventative measures, alongside the ability to recover goods and effective trespass laws will be more effective and safer for workers.”

Around 230,000 New Zealanders work in the retail sector. A report from Retail NZ highlighted an increasingly optimistic outlook for the industry regarding sales prospects in the year ahead.

 

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