 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Leader's LetterJune 2003
Leader's ReportThe time has come to mount a full scale war against soaring crime levels. New Zealand First has announced a policy of doubling police numbers as part of the party’s commitment to restoring law and order in this country. 
As well as increasing police numbers, a system of monitoring police performance by local communities would be introduced. There has been a serious growth in crime rates. In the last full reporting year, total reported crimes committed in New Zealand reached a staggering 436,315. That is the equivalent of 1,195 crimes every day of the year, or 50 crimes every hour of every day! Only four crimes in every 10 reported are cleared. New Zealand has only 7,038 sworn police - that is about 179 officers per 100,000 of population. Ireland has 309 officers per 100,000. The latest Police Report to Parliament showed an increase in homicides, kidnappings, robberies, assaults, theft, intimidation, sex attacks, drugs offences and disorderly behaviour. Police form a “thin blue line” that is now so thin it is buckling under the weight of criminal offending. In parts of the country criminal offending is a serious career option for some individuals because police simply do not have the resources to stop it. New Zealand First proposes to double the number of police over a five year period, starting in 2005 after the next election. The extra estimated cost ($700 million) could easily be met from projected Budget surpluses. There would be considerable savings to the community through the flow on of a drastically reduced number of crimes. Frontline police make up the last non-stop, 24 hour social agency in New Zealand. They have to deal with everything that is thrown their way. Too many good police officers are turning to other occupations because of stress and the unrealistic expectations of the Government. Along with the increased number of police officers, New Zealand First wants a new system of police reporting monthly on their performance to local communities. Under our new policy each district commander will be obliged to provide monthly crime figures to the mayors of city and district councils and to discuss crime trends and clearance rates with these community leaders. Operational matters will always be left with the Police Commissioner who reports to the Minister of Police, but we believe that a public accountability tier at a local level will help ensure that community needs are met by the extra resources. Performance will be measured by meeting community expectation - not by the number of traffic tickets issued in any working day. It is essential to release the broad outline of the policy now so that there is ample time for public discussion. Other important elements of New Zealand First’s law and order policy will be released in the coming months. We are committed to fighting crime. We urge all law-abiding New Zealanders to join us in the battle ahead. Rt Hon Winston Peters
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||