Sunny Kaushal: Ministerial Retail Crime Advisory Group lead on the Government's new measures designed to crack down on shoplifting

There's another tool in the police toolbox for cracking down on crime.

A retail crime prevention advocate says he's happy with proposed law sentencing changes.

The Government's confirmed new proposals to increase penalties for shoplifting - including infringement fees, a new 'aggravated theft' offence, and prison sentences.

Ministerial Retail Crime Advisory Group lead Sunny Kaushal says we need to create deterrents - and he wants it to be easier for police to prosecute shoplifters.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Afternoon shoplifters will soon be getting on the spot fines.
The government's proposals as follows. Shoplifting of up to five
hundred dollars, the fine is five hundred dollars. Shoplifting of
app of over five hundred dollars the fine is one
thousand dollars. And then there are also changes to the
maximum jail time for higher value shoplifting. Sunny Kochel is
the chair of the Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group. Sonny's

(00:20):
with us right now, Hey, Sonney, very good, after heady,
is this what retailers want?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, this has been overdue from long time. You know,
the retail crime is costing a New Zealand two point
eight billion dollars per anum, which is over fifty million
dollars per week or over seven million dollars per day.
And in terms of shoplifting, there were eighty five thousand
reports or made to police last year. That's over two

(00:46):
hundred reports aer day. So in terms of shoplifting, it
now costs retailers one point four billion dollars every year,
which is twenty seven million dollars per week or three
point eight million per day. And this is a cause
it's not just paid by the retailers, but it's paid
by every consumer and every New Zealander.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Sonny though, how can the police find somebody on the
spot if guilt hasn't actually been determined through a court process.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well so is of course the police can do, you know,
on the spot and otherwise it can be reported. You know.
Currently what is happening. Half of all police proceedings for
shoplifting is going no further than a police warning. And
nobody wants to see a first time offender or somebody
for whom shoplifting is out of character, so being prosecuted

(01:38):
through the courts and that's disproportionate and not in the
public in trust or financial responsible. But that doesn't mean
a warning will always be suption. So an infrontment notice
adds to police's toolbox to choose the most appropriate response
to offending in these circumstances.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
And do you think these people will actually pay it?

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well, that's the deterrent that we need to create and
we want to be are basically making it easier for
police to prosecute shoplifter. As said, the shoplifting has more
than doubles since twenty nineteen and it's hugely costing us.
You know, the biggest loophole in our proposals we are
closing is removing the value threshold for the lowest level

(02:23):
of shoplifting. You know, currently currently the shoplifting is only
punishable by a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment when
the value of goods stolen are less than five hundred.
So this is the lowest penalty in the Crime Act
and it's not a subtion deterrent. And the low penalty
also sends a wrong signal to police, to the courts,

(02:45):
to offenders and the victims that shoplifting is not a
serious offense. It is. It is costing us hugely and
ultimately the surprise we all pay at the tell.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
Sunny it's good to talk to you based of luck
with us the Sunny coocial chair of the retail I'm
an asterial advisory group. For more from hither Duplessy Allen Drive,
listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
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