ACT Supports 'Abolish Parole' Campaign

ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks today applauded the Napier City Council's willingness to debate a proposal to support Sensible Sentencing Trust's campaign to abolish parole.

"One of the drawbacks of our nationwide police force has been the limits it places on local anti-crime initiatives," Mr Franks said.

"In the US, for example, New York's willingness to experiment with zero tolerance policing has enabled other cities to copy with the benefit of experience. Napier City Council can express the views of its community when central government has decided that the 92 percent who want to get tougher on crime are just rednecks.

"If enough local government representatives speak out, we might see a Labour U-turn like that on the Treaty industry. `Rednecks' might suddenly become the `genuine New Zealanders' Prime Minister Helen Clark now admits to be legitimately concerned.

"Sensible Sentencing's campaign, to abolish parole for violent criminals and sex offenders, is too limited. There is no evidence to support parole for any category. Mandatory supervision for all prisoners at the end of their sentences would serve any purposes claimed for parole.

"I hope the Napier City Council supports the campaign, but it would be even better if it simply called for truth in sentencing - the end of parole.

"Sadly, I cannot attend the debate - but I hope that perhaps, some day, Napier MP and former criminal lawyer Russell Fairbrother will accept my standing challenge to debate these issues," Mr Franks said.

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