Stuart Nash
MP for Napier
Police Spokesperson

MEDIA STATEMENT

27 May 2016

Nothing in Budget to help police to solve crime

The Police Minister has failed to make communities safer with virtually no new money in yesterday’s Budget for police to address the appalling burglary resolution rates, says Labour’s Police spokesperson Stuart Nash.

“It’s a disgrace there’s no money or aspiration to address our communities concerns about the ability of police to solve crimes like burglaries. The Police Minister has admitted in parliament that current burglary resolution rates are unacceptable but she’s done nothing about this.

“The bare facts show that the current strategy isn’t working because burglaries aren’t being solved. With 94 per cent of the additional Police Budget going towards already promised wage increases, based on last year’s figures, at least 59,800 burglaries will go unsolved this year.

“Judith Collins only found more money for salaries because Police negotiated a wage rise. But this is a catch-up payment after four years of underfunding police salaries forced regional commanders to take increases out of their operational budgets.

“Where is the money needed to solve crime and keep people safe? This Government is out of touch with our diverse communities expectations of policing,” Stuart Nash says.

Attached: Police Burglary Resolution Rates (by station, district and region)

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1605/Police_Burglary_Resolution_Rates_by_resolution.pdf

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