National's Ideas To Combat Crime
Horowhenua is paradise and a great place to live and raise a family – but at times its image is tarnished by a few criminals who are a burden on society and on their victims.
National Party Leader John Key talked about combating crime at a very well attended public meeting I organised at the Levin Memorial Hall earlier this month.
Reported crime figures I obtained under the Official Information Act have shown marked increases in dishonesty, property, violence, and drugs and anti-social behaviour offending in the district.
As an example recorded violent offending in Levin had increased from 233 offences in the year ending 30 June 2006 to 301 offences in June 2007, or up 29%. Serious assaults also rose 29% from 82 recorded to 106 in the same period.
It is no wonder the meeting was so well attended as crime is a serious issue in our district.
Labour has tried to say I am being negative (now a typical response when I raise any issue that they would rather sweep under the carpet). But they didn’t question the figures, as they are accurate.
The more recent crime figures up to 31 December 2007 haven’t been released locally by Labour to show that their policies are making our communities any safer. I am working hard to obtain these figures and anticipate they don’t paint a good picture, as nationally they show a huge increase in violent crime particularly domestic violence.
I believe as a community we need to be strong and address these issues. I certainly won’t turn my back as I believe we can do better, much better.
John Key also thinks we can do better.
Mr Key told the meeting that it costs $92,000 a year to house just one inmate in prison, and that it is actually cheaper to spend the year in the Bolton or James Cook Hotels in Wellington!!
He also said crime is costing the country $9 billion a year in direct and indirect costs.
Locally we’ve embraced some voluntary initiatives to combat crime – with more than 3000 people now covered in our Neighbourhood Support Networks providing the eyes and ears for the Police on the ground.
In Kapiti, the Youth Quest programme is turning the lives of at-risk young men around - but is struggling with little Government support and more than 40 on its waiting list.
Some of National’s ideas to combat crime include a major focus on youth crime, as well as giving Police greater tools and changing Police focus. Other initiatives include changing bail and parole rules and giving victims of crime more support. Further policy would be released closer to this year’s election.
I hope that we can start to turn some of these sad statistics around through strong community leadership, lowering our tolerance and acceptance of petty crime (that leads to more hardened crime) and better supporting Police and other groups doing a fantastic job in our community.