Media Release

18 August 2005

Providing Families With Security - NZF Law And Order Policy

Rt Hon Winston Peters has promised to make significant changes to four fundamental aspects of Law and Order – restructuring the police force and traffic officers; dramatically increasing police numbers and giving them the resources they need; reconnecting police with their communities and changing laws to ensure it is criminals, not victims, who fear the criminal justice system.

“We must face the reality that Labour’s soft on crime approach has failed New Zealand and National offers no alternative.

“Our police require greater focus on their primary duties and we need more feet on the beat,” said Mr Peters.

New Zealand First will:

- De-merge traffic officers from the police;

- Increase sworn police, following the de-merger, by 1000 officers a year for the next five years;

- Ensure that police have the latest technology to combat modern crime;

- Resource our ESR laboratories to cope with the increased demand;

- Ensure that police have appropriate body armour;

- Provide the police with the means to combat growing immigrant crime;

- Bolster the police counter-terrorism unit;

- Focus on reducing youth, entry level, crime;

- Lower the age of criminal accountability to 12;

- Promote the re-connection of police with communities; and

- Ensure violent sexual offenders are not placed in unsuspecting neighborhoods.

“New Zealand First intends to see that this vital aspect of the New Zealand way of life is preserved. Our families must feel safe in their homes, on their streets and in their communities again,” concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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