Where Are The Answers We've Been Waiting For?

ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks today described the Government's release of the long overdue Crime Victimisation Survey as a calculated exercise in arrogance.

"It is bad enough for a contentious survey to show that New Zealanders are almost 50 percent more likely to become a victim of property crime over a five year period. But it is worse to slip it out with a media statement suggesting there has been little change - albeit in the fine print acknowledging the burglary and theft increase," Mr Franks said.

"The real damage to confidence comes from the complete absence of any explanation for the report being more than a year overdue, and no comparison at all with comparable international surveys.

"ACT, and others vitally interested in criminal justice, will have to pore through the fine print to do the comparisons. At this stage, it looks as though New Zealanders may be among the western world's most vulnerable to crime, based on a first crude comparison with the International Crime Victimisation Survey conducted for 17 countries by the Dutch Government.

"New Zealanders should be demanding an authoritative comparison from Justice Minister Phil Goff. After all, he's had plenty of time to do it," Mr Franks said.

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