ACT Police Spokesman Ken Shirley said the latest crime statistics released today show that Auckland policing is in
crisis.
"Violent crime in Auckland increased by a staggering 16 percent in the 2001 calendar year. You are simply not safe
walking the streets of our largest city.
"The latest statistics show that the beleaguered Auckland police are losing the battle, with crime resolution rates
dropping sharply.
"Last year one in every three victims of a violent crime saw nobody prosecuted for the offence. Even more shockingly
less than one in every two sex crimes was solved.
"Policing in Auckland is in crisis. Burglary victims have been waiting for three-days to have complaints dealt with in
spite of Police Minister Hawkins pledging a maximum 24-hour response time.
"Recently there were 20 CIB vacancies in Auckland, with junior staff handling very serious inquiries alone.
"Minister Hawkins has described the figures released today as `largely good news'. I don't think either the people of
Auckland or the Auckland police would agree with him.
"I think they would want to know what he intends to do to make our largest city's streets safe - rather than just
looking the other way," Ken Shirley said.
Ends