Shopkeepers could soon be allowed to restrain children if they catch them stealing under a new bill introduced to Parliament this month.
The Crimes Amendment Bill would allow citizens to forcibly arrest anyone committing an offence under the Crimes Act by boosting citizen’s arrest powers.
While some support the bill, others have already raised concerns over its potential impacts.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the bill’s primary focus was to allow people to “hold on” to someone if appropriate until police arrive.
Why retailers could soon have the power to restrain shoplifting children - Watch on TVNZ+
“One of the options that was raised is being able to restrain them in some way until the police arrive and that’s something that the select committee will be able to have a look at to see whether that's justified or not.”
Goldsmith said the use of cable ties could be a “possibility”.
However, not everyone was on board. Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young criticised the idea, saying staff would “need to be very well trained” to restrain someone.
"To ask a retail staff member to do that is a really big ask," she said.
As the proposed law stands, children would be able to be arrested and mechanically restrained if they were suspected of stealing something.
Goldsmith said didn't "imagine that would be happening at all" but would be looked at "in the select committee stage".
Meanwhile, Green Party justice spokesperson Lawrence Xu-Nan said "you shouldn’t have to wait to select committee to consider not having mechanical restraints on children".
The wider citizen's arrest powers would not just apply to people stealing from shops, but to all offences under the Crimes Act.
That meant citizens could soon be able to forcibly detain and arrest a person for committing bigamy or an employer carrying out wage theft.
"You could arrest someone for bumping into you. Corporate crimes is another good example that is covered under the Crimes Act," Xu-Nan said.
"It could lead to complete anarchy."
SHARE ME