NZ no safer than it was 20 years ago

Despite the Government’s claims, no one believes New Zealand is a safer place than it was 20 years ago, says National’s police spokesman, Tony Ryall.

“Drug crime is still rising relentlessly. Today’s police crime statistics hide the seedy reality of what is happening on our streets,” he says.

“Methamphetamine cases are up almost 30% in the past year, which goes hand-in-glove with increased grievous and serious assaults. Since 2000, hard-drug offences have doubled.

“Grievous assaults in the police minister’s own electorate have gone up 22% since he was put in charge.

“Much of the reduction in crime this year comes from fewer reported thefts, frauds and car thefts. The public has given up reporting these to the police. Shopkeepers and drivers know the police do not have the time to investigate these.

“Less than a quarter of thefts are ever resolved, so people ask ‘what’s the point’?

“I would like to acknowledge the work of New Zealand policemen and policewomen who are doing their best under quite difficult conditions.” Mr Ryall says.

© 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>>