Tony Ryall National Police Spokesman

14 August 2003

Street crime out of control

National's Police spokesman, Tony Ryall, says latest figures shows street crime is out of control in this country and the Government's giving up the fight.

"Violent crime up 3.6%, hard drug offences up a staggering 14% - so much for George Hawkins' hollow promise of getting on top of crime and the causes of crime.

"These statistics are appalling. This is the fourth year in a row of a record rise in violence," says Mr Ryall.

"Only last year, the Prime Minister was assuring the country that crime was coming down. Clearly it isn't and the Government's got no answer to fix it.

"Today's 3.6% increase in violent crime shows that since Labour came in, violent crime has risen 15.9%. This from a Government which promised to crack down.

"The cold, hard facts are that in the 12 months to 30 June assaults are up, robberies are up, dishonesty offence are up and even burglaries are up despite Labour trumpeting this as one of its crime-busting success stories.

"Under this Government, the chances of getting mugged or threatened are higher than they have ever been.

"With the relentless rise in violent crime, the streets in many parts of this country are just not safe.

"National wants a stronger police presence on the streets, instead of on the traffic highways. And there has to be a co-ordinated crackdown on the hotbed of violence - gangs and the supply of methamphetamine," says Mr Ryall.

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