A domestic violence register

Preventing Violence in the Home director Jane Drumm has advocated for a register of the most violent domestic violence offenders, to allow new partners to be warned.

Auckland’s domestic violence victim support agency wants a national register of the most violent offenders to be set up so new partners can be warned about dangerous men.

I’m all for such a register, but surely it should include all violent offenders, not just men?

Personally I don’t see why all convictions are not listed online in a searchable database. A criminal record is not a private matter. The clean slate law would wipe minor ones anyway eventually, but convictions should be a matter of public record.

The state doesn’t even have to set up such a database (but would be best to do so for accuracy purposes).  It could be done by any person or organisation.