Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor
Spokesperson for Corrections

March 27, 2014

Dodgy Claims That Streets Are Safer

Claims by the Government that “communities are safer” is absolute baloney, says New Zealand First.

“The messy reality is that on the streets in Auckland the average person does not feel any safer than they did five years ago,” says Spokesperson for Corrections Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor.

“This week Corrections Minister Anne Tolley claimed a reduction in reoffending and drop in recorded crimes but the statistics are just a poster to try and fool the public into thinking they are making a difference.

“We challenge the Government to show us just where it is now safer in Auckland.

“Squeaky clean statistics can easily be gained by fewer arrests – there’s a big difference between recorded crime and crime. Police simply cannot respond to many calls because they don’t have enough resources to cope with the huge demand.

“Low police numbers have also made it more difficult to address serious community issues like legal highs, which are contributing to serious problems for Child Youth and Family Services (CYFS) in cases I’m currently dealing with.

“In many cases the Government is taking credit for long-term projects that are just starting to bear fruit.

“They are overstating their involvement in successful Corrections initiatives that frankly had nothing to do with a National-led Government, such as the Saili Matagi violence prevention programme, the Vaka Fa’aola Pacific Focus Unit for rehabilitation, and other alcohol and drug treatment units that have been operating for over 10 years.

“No doubt the National Government will continue to create a false impression of their actual achievements this election year but New Zealand First will hold them to account,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

ENDS

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