Labour = Violent Crime

ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today expressed outrage that - after four years of Labour governance, spin and excuses - violent crime has skyrocketed a shocking 28.2 percent since 1999.

"Crime statistics released today show that violent crime is accelerating at a phenomenal rate:

• Grievous Assault: up 28.2 percent

• Robbery: up 18.2 percent

• Serious Assault: up 12.1 percent

"Overall, violent crime has soared 14.9 percent under Labour's so-called leadership - from 39,688 violent offences in 1999, to 45,614 in 2003.

"Today, Police Minister George Hawkins and his colleagues will revert to the same old spin of resolution rates, and offences per head of population, to try to convince the public that Labour is not failing to keep them safe - when, in reality, it is.

"A fundamental role of any government is the maintenance of law and order. These figures are an indictment on Labour, and prove to all that this is a government that is shirking its duty to the very people that elected it to office.

"The bottom line here is that this Government has failed. It has steadfastly arrogantly ignored overwhelming public concern over rising violent crime. Under Labour's stewardship, not only is the situation worse now than when it first took office, but it is only set to deteriorate," Dr Newman said.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>