AAG Press Release – 9 January 2009

The latest incident of bag-snatching in East Auckland is an indication that crime is still out of control.

According to a 3 News report on 23 December 2008, an Asian shop owner was mugged and dragged across a car park as she left her business. The manager of the shopping complex claims that Asians are being targeted.

This latest bag-snatching is reminiscent of the case of Joanne Wang, who was run over in the car park of a shopping complex in East Auckland as she gave chase to the robber of her hand bag.

Peter Low, Chairman of the Asian Anti-Crime Group (“the AAG”), says: “I am very disappointed and disturbed after watching news of an Asian woman being targeted again in another handbag snatching. The Asian community will be feeling even more rattled and vulnerable after this incident.”

Law and order was a major issue for voters leading up to the 2008 General Election. Political parties campaigned on tougher sentencing, promising to keep our streets safer and enforce greater accountability and transparency in policing. A pledge was even made to employ 1,000 police officers from Singapore to help boost police numbers.

“It’s time to see more action, and not just talk. Just like an immune system functions to protect against harm from free radicals, communities must be allowed to defend themselves from criminal harm,” says Mr Low. “When the state fails in its duty to protect its citizens, the people will rise up and defend themselves.”

We have already witnessed the community rise up and voice its concerns. On 5 July 2008, 15,000 protestors, led by the AAG, marched in Botany to demand an end to intimidation and victimisation, against the backdrop of three violent murders in South Auckland.

Following the march, reaction from then Prime Minister Helen Clark and Police Minister Annette King was muted, dismissing the concerns raised and deriding the march as “a walk in the park”.

With the election over and the installation of a new government, there is renewed hope for a change of direction in law enforcement.

“The people have spoken, and voted for change in law and order policy. The time for being proactive and for results is now,” says Mr Low.

The AAG welcomes measures proposed by the new government to tackle violent crime, in particular the ‘Three Strikes’ law and the tightening of bail for violent offenders.

“Hopefully our new Prime Minister John Key, Rodney Hide and other politicians will listen to the cries from the 15,000 protestors and other concerned members of the community,” says Mr Low. “We will not rest until our voices are heard.”

Should the trends of violent offending and bag-snatching continue, however, the AAG promises to organise another nationwide protest, which Mr Low says will be even bigger than the one in Botany.

Meanwhile, the AAG will continue engaging with all concerned parties committed to safe communities, and invites all interested individuals to get involved by visiting www.aag.org.nz.

ENDS

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