Press Release 23-7-07

Ban smacking –build prisons says Watchdog

“Be prepared to spend millions on prisons and lock up thousands more young people”, that is the dire warning from a criminal justice watchdog organization if Sue Bradfords controversial Bill to ban-smacking goes ahead.

“Children need boundaries, they need discipline and the odd smack never hurt anyone – the result of this bill will be catastrophic for our young people, said a spokesman for the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Garth McVicar said New Zealand’s liberal social policies had already caused New Zealand to have an extremely high prison population and the removal of parent’s ability to smack their child will exasperate the problem.

“We liken this crazy idea to the introduction of Legal Aid and Parole – no doubt introduced with the best of intentions but the consequences have been disastrous and the effects have caused the current blow out in the prison population.”

Sue Bradfords Bill is nothing short of a social experiment – it will be disastrous for exuberant young men with energy to burn – many of our young people are already going off the rails and ending up in jail, our Judges are now warning that the current soft youth policies are not working. Yet Sue Bradford and her band of liberals are determined to destroy thousands more young lives.”

Mr. McVicar said this will be another piece of legislation future generations will live to regret, “Like Legal Aid and Parole this crazy idea will haunt us in the future, the sad thing is Bradford and her ilk will not have to bear the consequences – young people of today will.

“Ban smacking today – build prisons tomorrow,” he said. Ends

ENDS

© Scoop Media