Congratulations to Blackball

Monday, 16 May 2005

Stephen Franks - Crime & Justice

Thanks to the people of Blackball, Labour and National will eventually be forced to abandon their “hide the crims” policies, ACT justice spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

“Community fears of the paedophile might have been excessive but people simply don’t trust the justice system any longer.

“People will take the law into their own hands until justice becomes trustworthy again. They

won’t trust the State until it is clear that the State treats victims’ interests as outweighing those of criminals,” Mr Franks said. “What is needed is the genuine open British justice our grandparents took as their guaranteed right.

“People will react with rage and tar and feathering threats when the State secretes criminals into innocent communities.

“There is no research evidence to show that offenders hidden in communities are more likely to be rehabilitated than those who have to satisfy fully informed neighbours of their turn around,” Mr Franks said. “Every adult in Blackball could have been helping the paedophile to be sure he didn’t fall into temptation.

“ACT would end all name and criminal record suppression unless the victims request otherwise. Trust may take a long time to restore but openness is the only long-term future.

“Government attempts at secrecy will always be defeated when enough people are determined. The Internet and public recognition in a small country like ours will guarantee that.

“The community will trust the justice system again only when it plainly puts victims interests ahead of criminals,” Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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