1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Afternoon shoplifters will soon be getting on the spot fines. 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: The government's proposals as follows. Shoplifting of up to five 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: hundred dollars, the fine is five hundred dollars. Shoplifting of 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: app of over five hundred dollars the fine is one 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. And then there are also changes to the 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: maximum jail time for higher value shoplifting. Sunny Kochel is 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: the chair of the Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group. Sonny's 8 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: with us right now, Hey, Sonney, very good, after heady, 9 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: is this what retailers want? 10 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: Well, this has been overdue from long time. You know, 11 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: the retail crime is costing a New Zealand two point 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 2: eight billion dollars per anum, which is over fifty million 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 2: dollars per week or over seven million dollars per day. 14 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 2: And in terms of shoplifting, there were eighty five thousand 15 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: reports or made to police last year. That's over two 16 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: hundred reports aer day. So in terms of shoplifting, it 17 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: now costs retailers one point four billion dollars every year, 18 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: which is twenty seven million dollars per week or three 19 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: point eight million per day. And this is a cause 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: it's not just paid by the retailers, but it's paid 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: by every consumer and every New Zealander. 22 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: Sonny though, how can the police find somebody on the 23 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: spot if guilt hasn't actually been determined through a court process. 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: Well so is of course the police can do, you know, 25 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 2: on the spot and otherwise it can be reported. You know. 26 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: Currently what is happening. Half of all police proceedings for 27 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: shoplifting is going no further than a police warning. And 28 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 2: nobody wants to see a first time offender or somebody 29 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 2: for whom shoplifting is out of character, so being prosecuted 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: through the courts and that's disproportionate and not in the 31 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 2: public in trust or financial responsible. But that doesn't mean 32 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 2: a warning will always be suption. So an infrontment notice 33 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: adds to police's toolbox to choose the most appropriate response 34 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: to offending in these circumstances. 35 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: And do you think these people will actually pay it? 36 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: Well, that's the deterrent that we need to create and 37 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 2: we want to be are basically making it easier for 38 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: police to prosecute shoplifter. As said, the shoplifting has more 39 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: than doubles since twenty nineteen and it's hugely costing us. 40 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 2: You know, the biggest loophole in our proposals we are 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: closing is removing the value threshold for the lowest level 42 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: of shoplifting. You know, currently currently the shoplifting is only 43 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: punishable by a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment when 44 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 2: the value of goods stolen are less than five hundred. 45 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 2: So this is the lowest penalty in the Crime Act 46 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: and it's not a subtion deterrent. And the low penalty 47 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: also sends a wrong signal to police, to the courts, 48 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: to offenders and the victims that shoplifting is not a 49 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: serious offense. It is. It is costing us hugely and 50 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: ultimately the surprise we all pay at the tell. 51 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: Sunny it's good to talk to you based of luck 52 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: with us the Sunny coocial chair of the retail I'm 53 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: an asterial advisory group. For more from hither Duplessy Allen Drive, 54 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, 55 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.