Computer crime will still go un-checked

The soothing noises coming from the Government over changes to computer offences in the Crimes Act are little more than a smokescreen, according to National Party Police spokesman Tony Ryall.

"The National Party welcomes the toughening up of the law and we believe these changes are long overdue. In fact, I introduced these amendments when I was Justice Minister!

"But there are serious questions that have been left unanswered.

"Already the police are suffering from under-resourcing, and the Police have now confirmed that at present they are only able to investigate between 20% and 30% of reported computer crime.

"There is little point having new penalties if almost no-one gets prosecuted," says Mr Ryall.

"It's time George Hawkins got real with the problems facing the force.

"He can't add new responsibilities without giving police the tools and the resources they need.

"Labour's priorities are all wrong.

"There's endless money for highway patrols and speed cameras, but precious little for anything else.

"New Zealanders don't want cops ticketing people for driving 6 kilometres over the limit as serious computer crime goes unchecked and while burglars have only a less than one in 12 chance of getting caught in Auckland," Mr Ryall says.

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