Report Shines Light On Government Failings

The New Zealand Crime Statistics report is an indictment on Police Minister George Hawkins, and on the Labour Government's infamous soft-on-crime approach, ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

"Figures in the report, released today, show a surge in all categories of violent crime and sexual attacks, which have helped fuel the first total crime increase in more than a decade," Dr Newman said.

"Overall crime has risen 3.2 percent on last year's levels - violent crime rose 2.1 percent, sexual offences 12 percent, and dishonesty offences rose four percent. Every crime category has seen a significant increase over the past year.

"With homicide and kidnapping up more than 30 percent, sexual attacks up almost 17 percent, and drug offences up 28.4 percent, the Government can no longer pretend that it is fighting crime effectively.

"These figures are an indictment on the Minister. He and his Government have allowed this to happen. By cutting the police recruitment programme, and core police funding - down from 1.9 percent in 1999 to 1.7 percent today, as well as tying police up with non-core activities, political correctness, bureaucracy and red tape - the Government has left police hamstrung, and criminals with free rein.

"Labour's soft-on-crime approach is causing crime in New Zealand to spiral out of control. In spite of the Minister's rhetoric, these figures speak for themselves. New Zealanders deserve a zero tolerance approach to crime, and I demand that the Minister tell the country how he is going to deliver it," Dr Newman said.

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