Media Release
15 July 2004

Blind Eye Approach To Immigrant Crime Causing Court Backlogs

The justice system in this country is beginning to feel the strain of immigrant crime according to New Zealand First courts spokesperson Dail Jones.

Justice Ministry officials revealed yesterday that twenty-five High Court cases are at risk of being thrown out because they have waited more than 12 months to go to trial because of the increasing need for interpreters.

“This Government has repeatedly shown how indifferent it is to tackling immigrant crime, and now the courts are being made to deal with the results of their blind eye approach,” said Mr Jones

“You can’t have courts needing increasing numbers of interpreters without immigrants being involved in increasing amounts of crime, its just common sense.

“Perhaps this latest information from Justice officials will at least make the Government pull its head out of the sand on this issue,” said Mr Jones

ENDS

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