Mission Statement and Goals

Victims before criminals - When a conflict of interests arises between the rights of a victim and a criminal, the victims rights takes precedence even when, in its fulfillment, the rights of the criminal may not only be ignored but actively infringed upon.

Justice before legalism - The law should stand to serve justice not hinder it. If the mere application of law undermines apparent justice, then the legal principle should be considered subservient to the dictates of justice.

Victims of crime eligible for legal aid assistance to pursue justice.

A complete overhaul of the criminal justice system - The justice system to be predicated on the three prioritized goals of crime reduction and prevention; siding with victims of crime and the law-abiding; and the re-instatement of punishment, shame, and retribution as legitimate means to deter re-offending.

Assets of those punishable by imprisonment for a term of three years or longer are to be seized for victim support unless proven to be lawfully obtained.

Everyone accused and charged of crime will have a limited right to legal aid - those found guilty will have the full cost of their legal aid bill as a debt to be paid and/or worked off during their prison term except and unless, they have pleaded guilty.

Fundamental changes to the criminal justice system to be assented by referendum.

Opinion

Whip-a-yapper

Daunted by the long and expensive process of suing the yapping dog owning neighbour for devaluing your property? Frustrated by officialdoms necessary but tortuous softly, softly approach? Can’t reach them with the garden hose? The answer. A stock whip. The searing thrash and bone chilling crack (On your side of the fence of course), reverberates up the spine of the recalcitrant hound as it gets lockjaw gulping a yap. Then silence glorious silence. Where can you obtain one of these whips? Go to www.stockwhips.co.nz

I used to follow the rodeo circuit years ago and learned whip cracking, it didn’t take much practice to get the skill back. To keep your skill level up you need to practice regularly, which I do. If your practice coincides with the neighbour’s yapper clearing his/her lungs so be it.

I had a visit from one of the negligent neighbours after she received a note from the local authority following my formal complaint. Waving this letter under my nose she vowed and declared the dog didn’t yap insistently. As her household all departed the property early in the morning I asked how would she know? That sort of stumped her and she said she was keeping the dog inside from now on. That had to be an admittance of guilt surely. (I hate to think what the inside of the house smells like now) I suggested there were two ways to solve the problem. Sell the dog or bring in the land agent. Actually the neighbours across the road who had a complaint lodged against them has taken the hint, I see a land agents sign on their fence now.

Lou Harrison-Smith is the moderator of this website.