Tuesday 25 Jun 2002 Richard Prebble Press Releases -- Crime & Justice -- Zero Tolerance for Crime

ACT leader Richard Prebble has written to Justice Minister Phil Goff, seeking the immediate release, under the Official Information Act, of results of a household crime victim survey carried out by the Justice Ministry at the end of last year.

"The survey results were due to be released in May. Mr Goff has now stated that the survey will be released in November, after the election, because the figures need to be worked on.

"I have been told that the survey results confirm my claim that a woman is more likely to be a victim of a violent crime in New Zealand than in America or any other OECD country.

"A similar survey in 1996 revealed shocking levels of crime victimisation - 33.38% of New Zealand Europeans, 72.4% of Maori and 236.12% of Pacific Islanders were victims of violent of crime in 1995. That survey showed New Zealand to have worse figures for violent crime - except homicide - than the USA.

"My request to Mr Goff is for the data and information that has been sent to his office - both in writing and verbally - about the survey, the data, information and advice that has been communicated to the Ministry of Justice, and the communications by him, his office and the department to the Ministry of Justice.

"I have grounds to believe that Mr Goff and his officials have been told that the preliminary data from the survey confirms that violent crime is getting worse and that I am correct in my claims; that Mr Goff and his officials are suppressing the information because it is electorally damaging to Labour and its de facto coalition ally the Greens," Mr Prebble said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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