National promising to fight child abusers

FAIRFAX MEDIA: National Party leader John Key says his party will increase sentences for offenders who kill, abuse or neglect children.

Speaking outside a New Plymouth courthouse today, Mr Key said National would increase penalties for child cruelty or wilful ill-treatment of a child.

He also said those who assaulted a child or wilfully neglected a child would also be treated more harshly than they are at present.

"We will direct the courts to specifically take into account the fact that the victim is a child when sentencing," Mr Key said.

"I want to send the message that violence against children will not be tolerated."

He was concerned that offenders who commited acts of violence and abuse against children often received shorter sentences than if they had offended against adults.

"I was horrified to learn that the maximum sentence for assaulting a child is just two years - which is shorter than the three-year maximum sentence for wilfully ill-treating an animal.

"That is wrong and that will change," Mr Key said.

Earlier this month National announced a policy of no parole for the worst repeat violent offenders.

Today Mr Key said National would also give the courts the option of locking up the worst murderers for life without the possibility of parole.

"There is the possibility of someone in their first offence committing such a heinous crime that we think it's appropriate that they get life without parole," Mr Key said.

"Locking up the worst murderers without the possibility of parole will punish those who have not committed previous offences of this type but who have nonetheless been found guilty of heinous killings - such as double murderers Bruce Howse and Mark Lundy."

He said this was something neither current life sentences nor preventive detention could provide for.

Mr Key said while he expected the new sentence would apply to very few cases it would give the courts another tool to work with and was already in places including New South Wales and the United Kingdom.

"I am concerned that under Labour's policy of saving prison beds, sentences like home detention and bail have become easier to get for the wrong people," Mr Key said.

"Home detention should be available only to low-level offenders, so we will re-assess its appropriateness as a sentence for violent, sex, and drug offenders."