ACT has unveiled a new election policy targeting repeat offenders that would mandate a three-year minimum prison sentence with no parole for anyone convicted of burglary three times:
ACT Deputy Leader Nicole McKee announced on Wednesday that the party will campaign on a new "Three Strikes for Burglary" policy for the 2026 general election.
Under the proposal, anyone convicted of burglary three times would face a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison with no option for parole, home detention or early release.
The policy intends to crack down on high rates of reoffending.
According to data cited by ACT, 184,000 New Zealanders fell victim to burglary in 2025.
Statistics show that the majority of people released from prison for property theft return to jail within two years, while approximately three-quarters are resentenced.
McKee stated that a sense of security should be absolute but is regularly undermined by neighbourhood thefts.
"Judges keep using their leeway to give burglars more chances, and the burglars keep reoffending," McKee said.
She added that if individuals continue to break into homes, the warnings must stop so that real consequences can kick in.
The proposed regime would apply to offenders facing their third distinct conviction, as well as those facing a single court appearance with three or more separate counts of burglary.
If an offender commits an aggravated burglary, the offence would trigger a strike under both this new property framework and the existing Three Strikes regime for violent crime.
While the policy enforces a three-year minimum, judges would retain the discretion to issue longer sentences up to the legal maximum of 10 years.
What do you think of the new policy announcement?
