Mayor Harvey Wants ‘P’ Pushed Out

In a local government initiative to capitalise on the government’s budget announcement setting up a Police methamphetamine response unit, Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey is seeking the support of all Councils for further action.

At the Local Government New Zealand Conference on July 27th, Waitakere City Council’s proposed remits are:

That Local Government New Zealand request that the Minister of Police supply dedicated resources to the detection, decommissioning and prosecution of methamphetamine laboratories, and that such resources be additional to, and not drawn from, current staffing levels, duties and functions. That every Council identifies and applies all of their available powers and resources to supporting the war against methamphetamine

“The meth problem is huge and getting worse – it is leaving a trail of crushed families and ruined lives as people simply go on a Speed spree,” says Mayor Harvey. “If it’s hitting places Kaitaia (as was reported recently in the media) it’s out of control and our teachers, parents, and our young people need us all to show leadership on this issue.” “It has to be brought under control, and the police need everyone’s help, including that of local government.”

Mr Harvey says Waitakere’s own environmental health and property inspectors have been asked to be particularly vigilant.

“What I want to see is the full use of the powers that local authorities have – if they own a line company, check for unseasonably high power use, or water use, or corroded pipes, and to work with the Police to get these creeps behind bars.”

Mr Harvey says the government’s budget announcement making methamphetamine a class A drug and greater resources for police to combat the problem are welcomed.

“Now it’s turn for local communities to do their part.”