by Mary-Ann de Kort
We keep hearing about crime being one of the top election issues, as it has been for decades. Yet no government has stopped crime from happening.
It’s also disappointing to be told that our Labour Government wastes money when not a lot can be resolved with minimal spending.
We need to remember that crime is one of the outcomes of unstable housing and poverty. The children of those who work all hours just to pay the rent, are statistically more likely to go off the rails and commit crimes. Those young people who move frequently due to housing costs are more likely to fall in with the wrong crowds and commit crimes.
Luckily we have a Government that is willing to try to save these kids from lives of crime with programmes that can catch them at the early stages to prevent them falling in deeper.
More than 80 percent of the young people who have burgled or ram raided haven’t offended again. That is a huge success from our Labour-Greens Government.
Our Government is now looking at those who have re-offended and will take harsher actions for these young people. Rehabilitation isn’t a one-size-fits-all and if a kid can be turned, I’m all for it.
Only our Labour Government has increased police numbers by 1800, so that police are successfully capturing criminals. They have the capacity to surveille suspected criminals and have planned many raids on gangs. They have been very successful with many raids and the confiscation of drugs, guns, money and assets. These proceeds of crime have been used for successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation which, in turn, reduces crime.
In addition, 12,000 new state houses have been built to provide stable housing and, again, reduce crime.
In contrast we have a National and Act team with repeat policies of locking people up and sending young offenders to boot camps. In the past they have underfunded police and crime responses, sold houses and actually closed 30 police stations to save money.
I don’t know if they will sell houses again but I do know that crime has not reduced under any National-Act government, despite what story is told.
How will they afford better policing if they give $billions in tax cuts to the very wealthy. Those $billions along with your $2.15 weekly tax cut is better spent on more police, so you can feel safer.
That’s why I will give my two ticks to Labour.
