Calls for action over Kiwi criminals' deportation

Sensible Sentencing wants action to tackle a stream of New Zealanders being deported from Australia, with criminal records.

It's concerned they could continue a life of crime here, with no probation or other checks to monitor them.

The latest deportee is seven-foot tall Hayden Tewao, who's been escorted home after serving time for bashing a drug dealer in New South Wales.

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar says a ticking time bomb is being released on an unsuspecting community.

"They just should come back here a free agent, totally free, they can start their life of crime again if that's what they want to do so it's absolutely dumb. This, we believe, is the public safety issue. It's not about the rights to the offender, it's not about anything like that, it's about public safety."

Mr McVicar says it's a gap in the justice system which needs plugging.

He says whatever conditions would apply to a convict being released in Australia should also apply here.

Photo: Getty Images