Justice Reformist Commends Christchurch Police for Discouraging Rapist 'Stakeout'

The actions of Senior Sergeant Appley, of the Christchurch Police in discouraging the mother of a rape victim from 'staking out' released prisoner Jack Harris, and doing a "leaflet drop", was "copy book" stuff, said Kim Workman, Director, Rethinking Crime and Punishment. He was commenting on a TV One report , that the Police had intervened with the family, and undertaken to keep them informed of the offender's progress post-release.

"The whole thing had the potential to get out control, with the likelihood of a breach of the peace being committed by the victims families and friends, and the real possibility that community persecution of the offender could lead the released offender into committing a breach of the peace, or re-offending."

"It was not that long ago, that Police carried out leaflet drops themselves. That has stopped, and they now inform the victim's family of measures in place to keep the released offender both accountable and safe. The sex offender's programme Harris has completed while in prison, means that there is less than a 5% chance of him reoffending over the next five years. Community harassment of the kind proposed by Leah Matena of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, actually increases the possibility that an offender will reoffend.

"The victim's father , when interviewed on television, said he wanted to meet with the offender, to talk about the impact the offence had on his daughter and her family. This option should have been explored earlier, when the offender was still in prison. Such meetings have the potential to provide further healing for the victim and her family, and further reduces the likelihood of reoffending. It seems that on this occasion, the offender is not that enthusiastic about a meeting."

"One can understand that the victims are hurting and angry. It is at times like this that they need professional advice from the Police, or groups such as Wellstop or Safe Network, who are experienced in working with offenders and victims involved in sexual offending. Fortunately, professional advice was available to the victim and her family, and won out over emotional hype.

ENDS

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