Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Legislation introducing a new ram raid offence has passed its first reading.
The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill would add 'smash-and-grabs' to the Crimes Act and give police the power to prosecute ram raiders as young as 12 years old.
The proposed changes were announced by the Labour government earlier this year in response to a rise in retail offending.
It passed its first reading with support from Labour, National and ACT - with the Greens and Te Paati Māori opposed.