Labour's law and order failings again highlighted

Monday 10 Jan 2005

Dr Muriel Newman - Press Releases - Other

"It is totally unacceptable that the victim of a shocking weekend burglary which left her house totally trashed should be told by Police that they cannot come around for two days," ACT Police spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

Dr Newman said while this was a Northland case, she's convinced it is not an unusual occurrence in other parts of the country.

"Cutting Police staffing to skeleton levels over a weekend so they cannot operate properly should be out of the question. Policing is exactly the same as the Fire Service and Ambulance Services. They are emergency services on call 24-hours a day, seven-days a week.

"Last year we all became aware of the dreadful case where young Iraena Asher's call to Police for help over a weekend failed, with fatal consequences. That should have been a wake-up call for the Government to ensure that the Police have the manpower they need to do their job properly.

"That was certainly not the case here in Northland where offenders left a burgled home looking like a tsunami had hit, and Police expected the victim to live in it for two days until they had the time to take the 10-minute trip from the station to begin their investigation.

"New Zealanders should be able to feel safe in their homes and on their streets. Maintaining law and order and keeping people safe is a core role of central government.

"Under-funding core police activities to the point that victims are expected to wait for prolonged periods before investigations can begin, is a sign that the Labour Government is failing in its essential duty," Dr Newman said.

ENDS
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