ACT leader Richard Prebble is standing by his claim that you are more likely to be a victim of violent crime in New Zealand than in the United States.

Mr Prebble today tabled in Parliament the respected International Crime Victims Survey by the Netherlands government, which shows you are more likely to be a victim of crime in Australia than the United States.

"It's well known that New Zealand's crime victimisation figures are higher than Australia's.

"Justice Minister Phil Goff's claim that the United States has a higher level of crime than New Zealand are just plain wrong. Mr Goff is relying on reported police crime statistics, which reflect things like the level of reporting of crime - not the real level of crime.

"Mr Goff is trying to defend the government's soft-on-crime approach," Mr Prebble said.

The ACT leader also tabled a recent article in the New York Times which showed violent crime in New York has fallen by 7.9 percent, which contrasts with the 8.5 percent increase in violent crime in New Zealand since Labour became the government.

The International Crime Victim Survey is on ACT's website at www.act.org.nz/icvs (www.act.org.nz/icvs) .

ENDS

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