Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced plans to revise the Crimes Act 1961, following suggestions from the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime (MAG).
If the amendments are approved, they will empower retailers, security personnel, and civilians to detain suspected offenders and utilise physical restraints.
Goldsmith pointed out that the current laws are inadequate, stating, “The general direction is we need to have some better tools available to retailers dealing with people walking out of their shops without paying for things.”
Retail NZ has expressed concerns regarding the proposal.
Chief executive Carolyn Young has stated that most members of Retail NZ are firmly against the proposed changes.
Although Young is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), she does not represent its views.
“As part of Retail NZ’s efforts to combat retail crime, we have been exploring whether extending powers of detention beyond police would be a solution. The great majority of members we have consulted have made it clear that only police should have powers to detain offenders,” Young said in a statement.
“As employers, retailers must do everything they can to keep staff safe under the Health & Safety at Work Act. Most retailers train their staff to prioritise their own safety rather than try to recover stolen goods. We cannot condone retail workers putting themselves into dangerous and volatile situations.”
“This is extremely dangerous—people will get hurt or even killed. Frontline retail workers, who are often young people in their first job, do not go to work to do law enforcement. Retail NZ’s focus remains on training retail workers and security personnel in prevention and de-escalation,” Young added.
Young said the majority of retailers lack suitable facilities to detain alleged offenders until the police arrive. Additionally, it is unlikely that police response times would improve enough to align with the demands of the proposed amendments.
“We believe that preventative measures, alongside the ability to recover goods and effective trespass laws, will be more effective and safer for workers.”
Retail NZ said it has been actively addressing retail crime for several years through various projects. The organisation has also expressed strong support for Foodstuffs North Island’s facial recognition trial, recognising the potential of this technology to enhance security against store crimes and promote worker safety.