The New Zealand government has announced new tougher sentences for offences against public transport workers following a “worrying increase in abuse and attacks”.
As part of its plan to restore law and order, justice minister Paul Goldsmith says a new aggravating factor for offences against public transport workers would be introduced alongside other sentencing reforms.
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“In recent months, there has been a worrying increase in abuse and attacks on public transport workers. We want to send a strong message that any attacks on bus drivers, taxi drivers, and anyone working on a public transport train or ferry will not be tolerated,” Goldsmith says.
“Building on the Government’s sentencing reforms package, this change will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029 and reducing serious repeat youth offending by 15 percent.”
Attacks on bus drivers and passengers have seen an increase in the past year, with one particular in July stirring up the conversation.
In July, a 39-year-old woman who police alleged was behind a brutal bus attack that left a teen boy with facial injuries and missing teeth appeared in the Manukau District Court.
The Chinese-New Zealand schoolboy was allegedly randomly attacked by the woman on an Auckland bus, where it is alleged the woman started yelling racial slurs at the boy before attacking him with a metal rod.
The Government is investing $15 million through Budget 2024 to deliver practical improvements to bus driver safety and working environments.
“Attacks on bus drivers and passengers have become far too common as New Zealand has faced an unprecedented crime wave. Industry has been calling for better, safer work environments for bus drivers, and our Government is delivering,” transport minister Simeon Brown says.
“Local authorities will soon be able to apply for funding for safety improvements, including retrofitted safety screens and real-time CCTV monitoring. Funding will also be made available to provide better restroom and break facilities for drivers.
“It is important we have the bus drivers required to deliver efficient and reliable public transport services so Kiwis can get to where they want to go, quickly and safely. These practical improvements are critical to improving working conditions so we can recruit and retain drivers.”
The Government is working with the public transport sector to develop new national guidance on managing passenger safety.
“Each bus operator is currently responsible for setting its own procedures for responding to attacks or altercations onboard. As a result, inconsistent processes are plaguing the system within the same city, let alone across the country, ultimately putting passengers and hardworking bus drivers at risk,” Brown says.
“Our Government is working with the sector to develop new national guidance on managing passenger safety and responding to incidents to ensure greater consistency and to improve bus safety.”
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