Dear John, 

Enough is enough. New Zealanders have the right to be safe and feel safe from crime.

Today I announced National will implement stronger sentences for convicted criminals, to restore law and order and make our communities safer.

This is what our new policy will do:

1. Limit the ability of judges to reduce sentences.
2. Make gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing.
3. Restore Three Strikes.
4. End taxpayer funding for cultural reports and put that funding towards more support for victims.
5. Extend eligibility for prisoner rehabilitation programmes to the half of prisoners who are currently unable to access them.

Violent crime has increased by 33 per cent, gangs are growing faster than police, and retail crime has doubled.

We need change and National will deliver that change October 14th.

Read more about our policy here.

Christopher.