The Government is giving police new ways to seize illicit assets, including KiwiSaver funds, from organised criminals.
The new legislation revealed today aims to target gangs and make it harder for members to profit from criminal activity.
“This is about ensuring crime doesn’t pay and that there are major consequences for criminal and gang activity,” Minister of Justice Kiri Allan says.
Allan says investigations have shown organised criminals avoid having illicit assets taken from them by putting property into the names of third parties such as associates, relatives, or friends.
But under the new amendments to the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, if someone associated with an organised group has assets that are suspected to be funded illegally, they now have to prove to the court how they came to have them - or face having them seized.
This court order will also apply to criminals based overseas who have property in New Zealand. They will have to provide proof within two months that they obtained their property legally.
Another new court order will also allow funds in KiwiSaver schemes to be subject to civil forfeiture orders, making it harder for criminals to hide illegal funds in their KiwiSaver.
Allan says the amendments will target assets with the value of $30,000 and above, but will also include groups of assets that total more than $30,000 together.
The Government expects the scheme could seize $25 million worth of assets a year.
Funds seized from the scheme will be put into The Proceeds of Crime Fund which is used to reduce reoffending and fund programmes such as alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
Police Minister Chris Hipkins says the new legislation will help tackle harm caused by organised crime.
“This is the next step in the Government’s work to curb crime and make our communities safer. It will mean that not only do we have more frontline Police than ever before, they also have greater powers to hit gangs where it hurts,” he says.
“This goes hand in hand with the Government’s support for work within communities to stop young people becoming involved in crime and gangs in the first place.”
Top image: Police car - stock photo. Credit: Getty Images
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