Under an amended law, citizens will have the power to detain criminals at any time, for any crime. But one law professor says retail workers aren’t trained to police – and the fallout could be serious
The Government will amend the Crimes Act to give all New Zealanders greater ability to detain people stealing from retail stores, in a bid to tackle an increase in shoplifting and retail crime.
But a top Auckland law professor tells The Detail he is not convinced by the change in legislation, highlighting the risks associated with untrained individuals attempting to detain offenders.
“It’s empowering people to do things without any safety net,” says Professor Mark Henaghan.
“It’s like walking a tight rope without a safety net and I don’t think you and I would try that, even if we were drunk.”
The current legislation does not protect retailers or security guards from liability if they try to detain an offender during the day and if the stolen goods are worth less than $1,000.
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https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/04/citizens-arrest-laws-raise-red-flags-for-experts/