National to scrap sentencing council

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National would scrap the Government's sentencing council and put its $1.5 million a year funding into services for victims, the party's law and order spokesman Simon Power says.

The Government last year announced it would appoint a sentencing council to help give guidance to judges due to concerns they were taking a harder sentencing line than was needed leading to the country's already overcrowded prisons becoming clogged with low level offenders.

It has put $5.8 million over four years towards the council, which is yet to start operating.

But Mr Power today told delegates at National's annual conference in Wellington, the party believed the council would add an "extra layer of bureaucracy that is not needed".

Mr Power also said the aim of the council was to reduce sentences by an average 25 per cent. National did not want that to happen.

National would instead give the money to services for victims.

National would also axe a Criminal Justice Advisory Board designed to provide advice to ministers on improvements to the justice system. The move would save $270,000 over three years.

- NZPA