Media Release:
12th September 2008
Police Put At Risk By “Recycling” Policy
Violent and dangerous offenders being recycled by lax criminal justice polices are exposing police to an unacceptable
level of risk according to the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said that the police and public were being exposed to a huge risk because of an ant-prison
–anti-punishment policy.
Mr. McVicar said that he would not be at all surprised if the man accused of killing the undercover police officer
yesterday has a previous history of violent offending.
“The odds are that this low-life who shot the officer yesterday will have been in and out of prison like yoyo.”
“Violent crime has increased by almost 50% in the last decade and approximately 78% of those who go to prison are
released early and simply recycled.”
“There was a staggering 6,000 more violent offences reported to police in the 2006 – 2007 year than the year before with
about 30,000 of these criminals being recycled through the Court or Prison system every year.”
Mr. McVicar said the “Release- to-Reoffend”policy had cost many innocent lives and put thousands more at risk.”
ENDS