Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman

2 November 2005

Police Minister must explain shortages

National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power, says Police Minister Annette King must explain to the public why, after six years of her Government, the police remain sorely under-resourced.

"She must face the victims of crime and tell them why this Labour Government has chosen to ignore the many calls by the public, the Opposition and by the police themselves.

"For years we listened to George Hawkins, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen tell us how well resourced the police were and how they got whatever they wanted.

"We now know how empty those words were.

"You only need to pick up a newspaper to read daily stories of victims being told their case will not be looked at till next year because police have no resources, even though half the work has been done by private detectives. Or, that because a crime is not violent, it will go to the bottom of the pile.

"We were also told that the 111 system had been sorted out, but when a boy with a neck injury has to wait two hours for the rescue helicopter because of communications problems, you have to wonder.

"In the one statement this Minister has made since she got the job she promised she would restore the public's confidence in the police.

"It is time she made her second statement and told this country how she is going to do that, because at the moment things are going from bad to worse," says Mr Power.

ENDS

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