Justice

Anyone who has been the victim of a burglary or other crime, as I have, understands the importance of justice. We should all be able to feel safe in our homes and on the streets of our community.  

This government is working hard with the police to create safer communities.

Our most recent crime figures are very encouraging.

Our commitment is making a big difference.

The police are getting on top of crime.  They do a great job. I am proud to be part of a party that is committed to providing them with the resources to do such a good job.

While you can always provide more resources in the fight against crime I believe that this government has done enough to hold its head high. Labour has invested a record amount in law and order over the last nine years with a budget of more than $3 billion a year. 

What I believe we must not forget and indeed continue to focus on, is the impact of sound social policy on crime. It is no coincidence that crime has trended down alongside unemployment.

We now have record low unemployment.  At just 3.9 per cent it's amongst the lowest in the developed world. From 1998 to the end of 2007, crime has dropped by approximately 17%, while the police crime resolution rate has increase by much the same level.

I think we all accept that there are some bad eggs, the police will always be needed, and I also think that many crimes are acts of desperation.

I don’t endorse that liberal “haven’t they had a tough childhood let’s be nice to them” attitude. I do believe that if you can identify issues such as poverty and unemployment as major causes of crime then you cannot possibly have an effective strategy to fight crime that does not also fight poverty and unemployment.

So I’m pleased that Labour has boosted police numbers by over 1000 since 1999, but I think it is just as important that we have been tough on the causes of crime. That was one of the pledges I and all other Labour candidates made back in 1999. This to me is what distinguishes us from parties like National in this area.

Disclaimer

The Labour party has a rigorous policy process whereby we debate ideas and establish the eventual party manifesto. It is the party manifesto that represents the official party policy. While unsurprisingly as a participant in this process I support the manifesto, on this site I have endeavoured to give my own personal views and thoughts so you will know where I stand on issues. In the majority of cases these will be in line with party policy, if however you want official Labour party policy please visit http://www.labour.org.nz