Figures Reveal The Truth Behind Labour Spin

Thursday 14 Aug 2003 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Crime & Justice

ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today slammed the Government for failing to crack down on crime and - in light of today's crime statistics - accused Labour of taking a dropping crime rate and turning it on its head.

"When compared with previous crime statistics, today's figures reveal a disturbing trend of rising crime and dropping crime resolution since Labour became the Government," Dr Newman said.

"Since 1999, we have seen a 65.7 percent increase in gang crime - robbery has risen 10.7 percent, grievous assault has risen 21.9 percent, and intimidation and threats have increased 32.7 percent. Further, drug-related crimes, aside from cannabis offences, have jumped a whopping 62.7 percent. In all, violent crime has risen 14.7 percent. Crime across the board has increased 5.4 percent.

"What is equally disturbing is the fact that the number of unresolved crimes has also continued to grow - rising from 9,495-251,644 in the past two years. Meanwhile, Police Minister George Hawkins tries to convince the public that police are coping with crime.

"No matter what kind of spin this soft-on-crime Government uses, no matter how hard they try to fudge the facts, these figures show that Labour is failing in one of the core roles of any government - keeping people safe. New Zealanders deserve a government that will protect them from crime, not one that will merely pretend it does," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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