Mark Welcomes Johnny-Come-Lately National

3 April 2008

Mark Welcomes Johnny-Come-Lately National

New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark welcomes National’s late arrival to the fight against youth crime.

“But where have they been until now and why aren’t they supporting my Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill?” asked Mr Mark.

“National’s ‘exposure’ of the upward trend in violence committed by young people, following publication of the crime statistics for 2007, is hardly news to New Zealand First.

“Despite the constant demands of the nay-sayers in the youth justice for hard evidence, the statistics and the evidence have always been there.

“But what are National going to do about it? Are they going to vote for my bill? No.

“New Zealand First has been saying for years that violent offending by young people is on the rise, and that the viciousness of violent crime committed by children is increasing.

“We have been saying for years that violent youth crime is increasing in its frequency and ferocity and that the youth justice system is failing. Their failures appear daily in our district courts as young adults now.

“We have been saying for years that we need to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12.

“So why are the Nats voting against that?”

ENDS