The Mapp Report: Plan To Stem Crime
Crime has been on everyone’s minds in recent months. The recently released crime statistics show that violence, sex
offences and drug offences have all increased. The police say some of this relates to domestic violence, but clearly
quite a lot does not.
We often think North Shore has a relatively low crime rate, and the figures do show this to be the case. However, we
are not immune to wider trends, and we do not live our lives in isolation from the rest of New Zealand. Violence can
strike when least expected.
Heroism
This was shown to be the case with Austin Hemmings. He and his family lived by the strongest of values, integrity,
honesty and doing the right thing. His selfless assistance proved to have fatal consequences. The possession of knives
now seems ubiquitous among some sectors of the community. In the past, going to someone’s assistance may have led to a
fight, nowadays it can have fatal consequences, with so many people in possession of lethal weapons.
This is a real challenge for all political parties. Defeating crime will not be easy. If it was, it would have
happened by now.
National’s plans for tackling youth crime
Many young offenders come from a gang culture and dysfunctional home life. They will be the hardened criminals of the
future if we don’t change them. This will be a challenge, but if we can make a real difference when they are young,
then we will make a long term impact.
For nine years, the Labour-led Government failed to act on the repeated warnings from those on the front line, but
National won't. We will give the youth justice system a modern set of tools for getting these young people out of the
crime cycle.
We will give the Youth Court the power to refer offenders to drug or alcohol rehabilitation programmes, and introduce
'Fresh Start Programmes' for those who aren't bad enough to be put into a youth justice facility, but who need a serious
dose of intervention.
The Fresh Start Programmes will be designed to give offenders what they need to make a fresh start – structure, routine,
clear boundaries, intensive support, and a sense of self-discipline and personal responsibility.
These programmes will last up to one year and include up to three months of residential training at, for example, army
facilities. They will address the problems underlying a young person's offending and may include drug and alcohol
rehabilitation, physical fitness training, literacy and numeracy teaching, and work towards NCEA credits, teamwork
exercises, and reinforcement of community values.
OUT AND ABOUT
The 48th Parliament closed last Friday, and members of Parliament returned to their electorates to start campaigning.
This week in the electorate has been a very busy one. On Monday the North Shore MPs led by John Key, met with Mayor
Andrew Williams and Councillors to discuss a variety of issues affecting North Shore City, especially infrastructure and
regional governance.
Infrastructure was also on the agenda at the combined public meeting, where Gerry Brownlee spoke to an audience of 60
people.
On Wednesday morning, I met with Councillor Ken Mackay, and other Councillors and senior Council staff, to discuss the
widening of Lake Road and the planned cycleway.
Campaigning is well underway, with hoardings up, and public meetings taking place. I hope to see you at one of the
upcoming public meetings.
3 October 2008
EVENTS
The following is a list of public meetings being held during the election campaign.
Additional meetings will be announced soon. You are most welcome to attend.
ends