Latest figures showing violent crime rose by 5.9 percent last year come on top of an 8.5 percent increase in the previous year, meaning violent crime has gone up more than 14 percent under this government, ACT leader Richard Prebble says.

"Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of today's release of the statistics is that Police Minister George Hawkins thinks it's a matter for congratulations.

"ACT says these figures are proof positive that we need to move away from the Labour/Alliance government's soft approach to crime. We need a New York-style zero tolerance approach which has reduced violent crime in that city by 30 percent," Mr Prebble said.

ENDS

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