7. Question No. 7—JusticeHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 7—Justice7. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Justice: Is she confident the justice system is delivering justice to the victims of youth crime?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Justice): I think we can all agree that the justice system is in no way perfect for victims included—which is why we are constantly striving to ensure that we have the right evidence-based settings across the justice system to keep our communities safe.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How can she have confidence that justice is being delivered when there have already been more ram raids this year than there were in 2018 2019 and 2020 combined but only just over one in three offenders are caught; and of those few that are caught fewer than two in three are actually prosecuted?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I refer to my first answer. There are many areas which we are seeking to improve. Consistently—as the Minister of Police has already stated in this House today during question time—there has been a considerable uplift in the apprehensions of young people this year.Hon Paul Goldsmith: What hope do victims of crime have when getting justice when according to Mahmoud Hardan of Quick Picks Convenience Store front-line police officers are telling victims of ram raids: We're very close to catching them but there's no point of it as they will only get a slap on the hand."Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I know that people on this side of the House are engaging with ordinary businesses police officers and victims of crime frequently. I think it's fair to say that there are a range of very useful solutions that have been proposed to us. The thing that we're really insistent on on this side of the House though is that whatever amendments we make to the youth justice system they don't go on to perpetuate and cause more harm for more victims; which is why we take an evidence-based position to the way that we introduce reforms—any reforms—in this area. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Has she called for an inquiry into the handling of convicted rapist Jayden Meyer's case—where a male who was convicted of raping four young women has received nine months' home detention—and if not why not?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: The member will be well aware that that is squarely within the judicial realm. What I will say and I want to put this on record clearly in this House—first I want to acknowledge that those young women came forward. They went through an incredibly tumultuous process but the fact that they came forward is something that this side of the House has been particularly insistent on ensuring: that we support victims of sexual violence to share their stories. I acknowledge the work of the Hon Marama Davidson in this area. Secondly what I will say is that on reflection in reading the High Court judge's decision it found that all of the measures that could have ensured a penalty of imprisonment were there and in this circumstance they were not followed.Hon Judith Collins: Rubbish.Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: Read the case. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! We'll have the question.Hon Paul Goldsmith: What changes if any is the Minister considering to the Sentencing Act to ensure that serious crimes do indeed lead to serious consequences and that victims do indeed receive justice?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I'll refer to my previous answer. As found in the decision yesterday of the High Court there is an appropriate sentencing regime. It is the system that was in place under the previous Government but for the fundamental reforms we made to the three-strikes system."