Chester Borrows MP National Party Police Spokesman

8 July 2008

Labour should explain need for private street patrols

The Government should explain why it is that a city council feels so neglected that it's considering hiring private security guards to patrol the streets, says National's Police spokesman Chester Borrows.

He's responding to reports today that Manukau City Council is considering hiring guards to patrol the streets to make up for what it sees as a shortage of front-line police.

"That the council is contemplating such a move after such high-profile problems is a shocking indictment on this Government's response to violent crime.

"It's the Government's job to make our streets safe, not hard-pressed ratepayers, who are already paying central-government taxes for that.

"They should not have to shell out for security that this Government should be providing.

"The fact is that Counties-Manukau has the second-worst police-to-population ratio in New Zealand.

"People living there see the problem, the council sees the problem, and, by all accounts, even the local police see the problem, so why doesn't this Government see it?

"Police Minister Annette King and Prime Minister Helen Clark crow about the extra police they've hired, but barely half of the 654 they've hired so far have been put on to the front line.

"It's time this Government stopped denying there is a problem."

ENDS

© Scoop Media