4 August 2002

Unfinished Business On Crime

National wants to know when the next official Police crime statistics will be released, as they will be a test of credibility on crime, says National's Police Spokesman Tony Ryall.

"Before the election the Government said crime was coming down and the streets are safer. National said crime is increasing, and violent crime is at another record high.

"Throughout this debate Police National Headquarters was silent.

"During the campaign Ministers Goff and Hawkins released shonky 10 month figures claiming they proved crime was coming down, and was at a 13 year low.

""All this talk about spiralling crime is an absolute beat-up." Mr Goff said. He went on to say "What's different about these figures is that it shows that finally the trend in violent crime has turned around and that violent crime is also coming down." The figures put a lie to the claim of spiralling violence which is being used to generate a climate of fear by some of the opposition parties".

"The Prime Minister claimed in a television debate that latest statistics proved crime was at a 13 year low, as did Labour's television advertising.

"Many voters believed the Ministers' claims about the crime rate. Had the Ministers seen the June 2002 year police statistics? When was this information available? Had the Ministers or their staff been briefed on these latest statistics? Were they ever cautioned over using the 10-month figures?

"National believes that crime is up over the past 12 months. More people are living in fear of violence. We've been warning the government of rocketing crime for well over 18 months. The soon-to-be-released crime stats will be a test of credibility...and honesty," said Mr Ryall.

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