Mt Roskill win confirms public desire for extra police – McVicar

4th December 2016
The Founder of the Sensible Sentencing Trust says Labours overwhelming win in the Mt Roskill by-election proves once and for all that public safety is an issue people are prepared to stand up and vote for.
Sensible Sentencing Trust [SST] founded by Garth McVicar in 2001 as a justice watchdog has become synonymous with public safety and has been responsible for many changes in the law and order / public safety arena.
McVicar says the ultimate crime fighting / public safety tool is the bobby-on-the-street and SST will support any policy from any political party that has public safety as its core principle.

McVicars comments come after Labour leader Andrew Little made a promise to boost Labours original promise of 1000 extra police with an additional commitment to reopen community police kiosks. Labour's police spokesman Stuart Nash said there could be as many as six kiosks in a community like Mt Roskill.
Mr Nash said, "Where crime prevention happens is actually in the community. So in the Mt Roskill electorate for example there are six distinct shopping areas and what I think should happen is every single one of those shopping areas there should be a kiosk. And in every one of those shopping areas there should be a policeman based...not necessarily sitting there, but supported by a volunteer, and getting out and about, talking to people, and just getting to know the community."

McVicar said SST was thrilled to hear these comments. “Over the years various political parties have cut police numbers and funding and have put police under enormous pressure resulting in more crime and serious threat to public safety so we are very pleased to see that police numbers are now catching the attention of opposition parties.”

“I also note that New Zealand First have said they will increase police numbers by 1800 additional front line coppers.”

“The real heartening thing for SST as a justice watchdog / victim advocacy organisation is that people are obviously prepared to vote on law and order and public safety – and this was just a by-election – but it lays the foundation for the main election next year.” ENDS

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