The Organised Crime Strategy (the Strategy) outlined a multi agency work programme containing 15 initiatives designed to build on the laws passed over 2009-2011 to target and disrupt the activities of organised criminal groups. Many of those initiatives have already resulted in operational improvements and changes to the way agencies work together.
This next set of reforms improves New Zealand’s ability to collaborate with international efforts to disrupt organised crime and ensures law enforcement agencies are able to quickly and effectively respond to new challenges.
In addition to benefits to domestic law enforcement, the proposed Bill, once enacted, will align New Zealand domestic law with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the UN Anti-Trafficking Protocol, the Recommendations of the Financial Actions Taskforce (FATF), and the Preventing and Combating Crime Agreement with the United States.
Alignment with these international standards maintains New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible international citizen. This supports New Zealand’s efforts to pursue a range of multilateral goals, including assisting in New Zealand’s campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council and enhancing New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible trading partner (which has flow-on benefits for New Zealand businesses looking to trade overseas). Making progress on this Bill and the proposed Anti-Corruption Strategy this year will also improve the outcome of New Zealand’s evaluation for compliance with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention taking place in October 2013.