Media Release
15 July 2004
Blind Eye Approach To Immigrant Crime Causing Court Backlogs
The justice system in this country is beginning to feel the strain of immigrant crime according to New Zealand First
courts spokesperson Dail Jones.
Justice Ministry officials revealed yesterday that twenty-five High Court cases are at risk of being thrown out because
they have waited more than 12 months to go to trial because of the increasing need for interpreters.
“This Government has repeatedly shown how indifferent it is to tackling immigrant crime, and now the courts are being
made to deal with the results of their blind eye approach,” said Mr Jones
“You can’t have courts needing increasing numbers of interpreters without immigrants being involved in increasing
amounts of crime, its just common sense.
“Perhaps this latest information from Justice officials will at least make the Government pull its head out of the sand
on this issue,” said Mr Jones
ENDS