Last few months have proved to be a nightmare for many New Zealanders and Aucklanders in particular, mainly to the Kiwi Indian community of New Zealand. Auckland has been the epi centre of crimes where a countless Indian businesses have been targeted, robbed and ram raided by young offenders repeatedly, many times. It appears that these criminals have no fear of law or of security agencies. There have been a countless brazen incidents of gun violence in Auckland in last two-three months and the criminals are now committing these crimes in broad day light and in full public view.

According to statistics, the violent crimes in public areas have gone up 21%, retail crime up 31%, gun violence up and under reported at a staggering 70%. The law-and-order situation is out of control and government’s soft approach on crime is not working. Many community and business leaders have appealed to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, to declare a Crime Emergency in New Zealand to deal with criminals with a firm hand. This call to declare Crime Emergency came after a customer was stabbed at a Sandringham shop during a robbery a week ago. This particular shop has been robbed several times in past couple of years and second time in couple of weeks. There are around 10 other shops in same Sandringham shops block that have been looted, robbed at knife and gun points in last 3 months’ time, some of them many times. Shop keepers who work hard, day and night to earn their livelihood are in constant fear all the time as they don’t know when they will become the next target of these criminals or lose their lives.

Some of these offenders who have been caught by the police for being involved in ramraids and breaking into business across the country are as young as 12 years old. Most offenders are under 18 years of age hence even if they are caught by police, they are released by courts for being juvenile. This is the irony of the law in the country that a 12- or 15-year-old can commit the crime but cannot be punished since the offender is not 18. This new crime spate in New Zealand is being unleashed by the gangs who control these youngsters, fully knowing that they will go scot-free even if they are caught by police. It’s time, the government need to make new harsher penalties for the young offenders to deter them from committing crime otherwise there is nothing that can stop crimes in this country. Another big loophole in the laws in New Zealand is that the victim is not supposed to retaliate or hit back the offenders to deter them or take up arms even in self-defence. The common man on the street doesn’t feel safe anymore, anywhere in New Zealand.

The law & order situation has gone so bad that all opposition parties are demanding Prime Minister Jacinda to sack the Police Minister Potto Williams for her inaction and soft handling of the criminal incidents. National leader Christopher Luxon is demanding for stronger anti-gang laws to combat the recent rise in crimes. Luxon touted Australian-style laws including allowing police to search for guns with a warrant. One wonders what really stops this government from taking some very basic and obvious measures to contain crimes. Does this government only cares about human rights of the criminals and the gangs and not worried about the law-abiding common citizen?

This pathetic situation of crimes in New Zealand needs to be addressed pressingly before New Zealand loses its image of a clean, green and a peaceful country. There are a number of frightened small business owners who have shut their businesses and are planning to move from New Zealand to a safer haven. If New Zealand government doesn’t act fast on the rampant crimes, we may soon experience a mass exodus of people from the country to other safer places. – Yugal Parashar