Media Release
05 March 2004

Review Of Pursuit Policy Needed Says Mark

New Zealand law and order spokesperson Ron Mark today joined the growing number of police officers who are sceptical of the new pursuit for car chases where offenders flee from the police.

“It is an unfortunate reality that many young offenders are already taking advantage of a perceived weaknesses within the police force not to pursue offenders at speed,” said Mr Mark.

“The new policy is a reaction to the run of fatal accidents that police have been involved in recently but sadly all it is going to do is give ‘boy racers’ more opportunity to bait officers to pursue them as they know that they will be called off.

“We have become a country that panders to the criminal element of society.

‘It is tragic that innocent people have died unnecessarily however we cannot give lawbreakers the upper hand.

“The public and the media are so quick to jump and blame the police for accidents however the point seems to have been missed that these people have broken the law in the first place and if they were not speeding the pursuit would not have happened.

New Zealand First is calling on the Government to review this policy and ensure that it meets the expectations of society while also allowing the police to carry out their statutory obligations,” said Mr Mark.

ENDS

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