Simon Power

By Kate Chapman of NZPA

Wellington, Oct 16 NZPA - New assistance for victims of serious crime and thier families has been welcomed but some say it is far too little.

Justice Minister Simon Power announced the new measures at the Victim Support Conference in Wellington this morning.

The financial support will help the families of homicide victims cover funeral, and other, costs and attend court proceedings.

Additional support will also be available for victims of sexual violence and other serious crime.

Paul Kuchenbecker -- whose son Karl was killed by parolee Graeme Burton in hills near Lower Hutt in January 2007, while Burton was on parole -- said today's support was not enough.

Families should be given $50,000 up front, similar to what was offered in New South Wales, to pay for funeral and associated costs and other financial burdens that arose from a murdeer, Mr Kuchenbecker said.

"I know it's not all about money but at the same it takes the stress off that person, who is grieving already, to not have to worry about financial problems.

"It's not their fault, it's not the victim's fault, it's directly related to the Government and its policies of letting people out when they shouldn't be let out. I believe the Government should front up."

However, Victim Support chief executive Tony Paine said today's announcement was good in the current economic environment and he was "pretty happy" with the ongoing programme.

Victims were offered emotional help through Victim Support and got physical support but were often left financially disadvantaged, he said.

"It's up to society not to leave them out of pocket," Mr Paine told NZPA.

As well as the obvious funeral and loss of income costs victims often wanted to be at court hearings of the accused, he said.

The court may be in a different town, victims have to travel to the court, pay for accommodation, arrange for childcare and take time off work.

Sensible Sentencing Trust national spokesman Garth McVicar said Mr Power's announcement was an acknowledgement and a start.

"I've never seen a victim who was in it for financial gain."

The new initiatives were about moving victims to the centre of the justice system, he told NZPA.

Rethinking Crime and Punishment's Kim Workman said the today's announcement was "encouraging" and "very promising".

There had been little focus on victim rights until the Victims' Rights Act in 2002 and since then "some remarkable progress was made on those issues", he told NZPA.

"Clearly there's effort made to providing financial support."

The announcement today included:

* Families of homicide victims being able to receive $124 a day for up to five adult members to attend High Court proceedings;

* An additional funeral grant of up to $4500, on top of the $5500 available from ACC;

* The discretionary grant for families suffering financial difficulties will increase from $1500 to $5000;

* A new homicide support service will established to provide practical and emotional support to the families of homicide victims;

* Trained advisers will provide assist to victims of sexual violence;

* Sexual violence victims will also be eligible for a grant of $250 for one-off expenses incurred as a result of the violence, such as to replace items of clothing;

* Other victims of serious crime will receive financial assistance to help them travel to court proceedings (up from $1000 to $3000) and Parole Board hearings (up from $500 to $1500);

* A DVD and three pamphlets will be available to all victims to inform them about the court process and where they fit in the system.

The eight initiatives will be funded from the offender levy.

The levy, of $50, will be collected from all convicted offenders.

Legislation enabling the levy was expected to be passed next week, Mr Power said.

The levy was expected to generate $13.6 million over the next four years, he said.

Victims often feel marginalised, or re-victimised by criminal proceedings, Mr Power said.

The initiatives will be introduced between this November and July next year.