Labour Eroding Public Goodwill Towards Police

The Labour Government's crack down on speeding motorists could strain the relationship between the police and public, ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman predicted today.

"The police's annual statement of intent has revealed that the number of tickets to be issued to speeding motorists could increase by up to 25 percent between this year and next," Dr Newman said.

"This comes hot on the heels of information I revealed nine days ago, that showed traffic fines issued by the police had reached an all-time record of 400,000.

"By focussing on revenue gathering - rather than core policing - Police Minister George Hawkins is eroding the public's perception of the police, and damaging the long-established trust and respect the public has for them.

"While ticketing of motorists has increased, so has violent crime - up 15 percent since Labour took office. This comes as no surprise - the policing budget has been cut every year since 1999, while the traffic policing budget has increased by a third.

"Labour's relentless drive to make money is an absolute disgrace. By criminalising motorists, the Government has turned the police into a money-making organisation, and is failing in its duty to keep law-abiding Kiwis safe from crime," Dr Newman said.

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