Friday, 21 May 2004

Greedy Labour Turns Police Into Cash Cows

Dr Muriel Newman - Press Releases - Crime & Justice

The Labour Government is turning motorists into cash cows, and the once proud police into little more than glorified parking wardens, ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

"Answers to my written Parliamentary Questions have revealed that, last year, traffic fines issued by the police have reached an all-time record of 400,000," Dr Newman said.

"Ticket numbers for failing to wear a seatbelt has soared from 22,000-82,000 over the past four years. Over that period, infringement notices for drivers who had forgotten their licence skyrocketed from 11,000-41,000, and minor speeding fines rose from 22,000 to 40,000.

"By focussing on revenue gathering - rather than core policing - Labour is eroding the public's confidence in the police, and damaging the long-established trust and respect the public has for them.

"This lack of focus has caused crime to increase across the board for the first time in a decade - with a dangerous drug epidemic sweeping the country, violent crime having risen 15 percent since Labour took office.

"Meanwhile, the core policing budget has been cut every year that Labour has been in power, while the traffic policing budget has increased by a third.

"Even more concerning is the fact that, in a relentless drive to make more money, Police Minister George Hawkins is set to increase police's fines quota by 20 percent next year. This is absolutely outrageous.

"It is an utter disgrace that, by criminalising motorists, the Labour Government has turned the police into a money-making enterprise, and is failing in its duty to keep law-abiding New Zealanders safe from crime," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

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