CAPS Press Release

New Zealand Crime Free Day

The Coalition Action on Public Safety (CAPS) has been formed to seek a united consensus leading to permanent crime reduction. Their inaugural event will be the first New Zealand Crime Free Day to celebrate the first Anniversary of the Manukau anti-crime march and to remember victims of violent crime.  The event is on Sunday 5th July 2009 starting at 10 am at Nandina Road, East Tamaki, Manukau City. It will include a peaceful walk which will follow a similar route to the July 5th 2008 anti-crime march.

Peter Low, of the Asian Anticrime group, who organised the first march on 5th July 2008, says that “more than 15,000 supporters, victims and families who had lost their loved ones marched under cold weather conditions along Botany Downs, crying for more action against crime. The turnout caught media attention in New Zealand and around the world, and has become one of our days in history to remember.”

Since then, the support has been tremendous, with broader ethnic communities and many other organisations joining. “This huge support has resulted in the formation of a broad based coalition which will speak powerfully and with one voice to say that all New Zealanders want a permanent and lasting solution to the crime problem.”

This coalition of many groups concerned with transparency, accountability, and public safety, has been formed out of growing concern that the New Zealand Justice system is no longer a service delivering justice to the people it is meant to protect – that is, the citizens, residents, and visitors to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

“We are inviting all organisations working for the greater good to join – for example all ethnic organisations, regardless of whether or not they are currently supporting victims or helping police, government or local bodies to fight crime and keep people safe.”

“We are not just a pressure group or a victim’s advocacy group, and we wish to unite all stakeholders in the criminal justice and public safety area, including the government. Our purpose is not to protest, but to work to bring about fundamental change in our society and our attitudes, in order to protect everyone, especially our children and grandchildren, from the misery and heartbreak that our unacceptable, accelerating crime rate is causing.”

Further information is available on our website www.caps.org.nz or by emailing info@caps.org.nz,

Ms Hansaben Naran, New Zealand Indian Central Committee

Ms Sophia Xiao, Asian Anticrime Group

Mr Hugh Smith, Truth Honesty Ethics Trust

Mr Vui Vitale, Manurewa Pacific Crime Watch Patrols

Mr Shantilal Prema, Independent Indian Community Member

Mr Peter Low, Asian Anticrime Group

Mr Kevin Hicks, Neighbourhood Support Auckland

Mr Stanley Park, Korean Community Representative

ends

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