“The only evidence required is already available for everyone to see, violent crime is escalating and child abuse and drug abuse is rampant, the time for talk is over.”

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Media Release:
9th January 2009

Catch Phrases Just Won’t Cut It – Victims Group

A victim support organization is scathing of what they say are populist catch phrases aimed at discrediting the Governments commitment to overhaul home detention and parole laws.

A row has blown-up since Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins said New Zealanders had lost faith in sentencing and parole laws and major changes were on the way.

Her comments were attacked by Kim Workman of Rethinking Crime and Punishment who accused the Government of pushing through legislation in absence of evidence-based research, good information and adequate consultation.

But Garth McVicar from Sensible Sentencing has leaped to the Ministers defence saying the catch-phrases used by Mr. Workman were just failed old clichés that had caused the problems New Zealand now faced.

“The only evidence required is already available for everyone to see, violent crime is escalating and child abuse and drug abuse is rampant, the time for talk is over.”

Mr. McVicar said the National / Act Government campaigned to get tough on crime and was elected in a landslide victory.”

That is the only consultation required, the Government has the support of the people, the Minister has a mandate to do exactly as she has said she will do.”

“I can understand why these so-called criminal justice professionals are starting to squeal, they are responsible for the mess our country is in – they have driven criminal justice policy and it has been a dismal failure.”

“The evidence is there for all to see.”

ENDS

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