Rethinking Urges Community Leaders to Debunk Law and Order Myths

Embargoed until 12 midday, Monday 15 October

“It is important that responsible citizens don’t unintentionally perpetuate the crime and justice myths spread by sensation-seeking media, and those organisations who gain support for their cause, by striking fear into the hearts of vulnerable New Zealanders.” said Kim Workman, Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment, in a speech to Wanganui Rotarians today.

“Rethinking Crime and Punishment urges each and every one of you, as community leaders, to seek the truth, and publicly challenge the nonsense that is fed daily to a gullible public, by irresponsible media, and those organisations who want to increase their membership by misleading the public.

Here are some of the myths that need to be challenged.

Myth No 1: That New Zealand was a safer place in the 1950’s, 60;s and 70;s than it is today. In fact, the crime rate increased through the 1950’s and peaked in 1992. The crime rate has been declining since then. Our senior citizens are safer today than they were twenty years ago.

Myth No 2: That in the 1960’s and 1970’s , the “Bobby on the Beat” knew everyone in the neighbourhood. I was a Policeman in those days; and that is pure romanticism. The Police are better at communicating with the public now than ever before; and there are far more of them. Since the 1950’s the per capita number of sworn police has more than doubled.

Myth No 3: That Police are more likely to be assaulted today than in the past. In fact, the number of assaults per sworn police officer has barely changed over the last twenty years. . There has been slight increase of common assaults, and a slight reduction in serious assaults, per sworn police officer.

Myth No 4: That there is less respect for the Police. The 2011 Citizens’ Satisfaction Survey, gauges public opinion of police and the services they provide. More people than before are expressing high levels of trust and confidence and are feeling safe in their neighbourhoods and town centres. Ninety-one percent of those who had recently been in contact with police rated the staff as competent. A recent Justspeak survey showed young people had concerns about the attitudes of some policeman, but did not generalise that view across all Police.

Myth No 5: That people no longer feel safe in their neighbourhoods.
The 2012 Citizens’ Satisfaction Survey shows people feeling safe in their neighbourhoods, with 91% rating Police as competent. These numbers have improved annually in recent times. While people consider their own locality safe, they are likely to report that crime problems are serious and increasing across the nation as a whole, due to sensationalist media coverage and fear mongering.
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