Labour Remains Committed To Bipartisan Approach For Safer Communities

Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel has renewed Labour’s commitment to work with the Government on early intervention programmes to reduce crime and make communities safer.

In a speech to the National Restorative Justice Practitioners’ Conference in Wellington today Lianne Dalziel said a bipartisan approach would allow those at the coal face who deal with offenders to work with certainty.

"That way the NGO sector that dominates this area could be assured of ongoing support and funding regardless of the three-year electoral cycle, and the government sector could be held to account against the same evidence based criteria for their programmes," Lianne Dalziel told the conference.

"It’s disappointing Justice Minister Simon Power didn’t take up the Labour Caucus’ offer to work collaboratively following last year’s ‘Ministerial Drivers of Crime’ meeting.”

Lianne Dalziel said one year on from what was an excellent initiative, nothing has changed.
"The failure to accept that there is a need to develop a non-partisan approach to addressing the underlying drivers of crime means we will continue to see the beat of the law and order drum drown out the call for early intervention," Lianne Dalziel said.

"Taking the politics out of the policy process would have allowed decision makers to give much more focus to both personal and community responsibility and to meeting the real needs of victims.”

Lianne Dalziel said that while individuals must face up to their offending, collectively we needed to understand that turning a blind eye to what is happening in communities is not an option.

"It is the only chance we have as a community to stop intergenerational cycles in their tracks,” said Lianne Dalziel.
In light of the fact that National seems to moving closer towards ACT’s extreme justice policy, Lianne Dalziel reiterated Labour’s offer to work with the Government.

"In Opposition National talked tough on law and order and drummed up fear in our communities. But in Government, they’ve snubbed the opportunity to work collaboratively to take real steps to make our communities safer. I said in my address today that it takes courage to face up to what would really make a difference and I am calling on the government to be courageous. “

Closing Address: “What will Turn the Tide”: http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1003/Restorative_Justice_final.doc

ENDS

© Scoop Media