Media Release from Dick Quax

2 August 2007

Government must provide more police for Manukau

Manukau mayoral candidate Councillor Dick Quax says that he has become concerned that the Manukau City Council is increasingly being called on to fund security guards around the city.

This follows a request today by the Hunter’s Corner Town Centre Society for Council funding for an additional security guard during the school holidays.

“Central government needs to address the issue of law and order and provide more police in the Counties Manukau Police District,” says Cr Quax.

“It is accepted that the first priority of any government is to protect its citizens and their property. Right now the government is failing in its contract with the people of Manukau”.

The people of Hunter’s Corner in Papatoetoe have lost faith in the ability of a government agency – the police - to protect them.”

Petty crime such as bag snatching is common and security officers are being attacked by youths using sharpened screw drivers.

“The criminals are winning the battle for our streets and it’s an outrage that it is the ratepayers of Manukau who are being asked to pay for what is for all intents and purposes is a private police force”, said Cr Quax.

“We pay our taxes for the government to provide an adequately resourced, state funded police force and it’s about time it happened”.

ENDS

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