Law and order policy Q&A

The Herald asked politicians: "What is the most serious law and order issue facing New Zealand and how would you fix it?" Here are their answers:

Phil Goff, Labour

Labour will increase efforts to tackle violent crime fuelled by drugs such as methamphetamine. New legislation will strip the assets off gangs that control the meth trade. More resources will be committed. Already over the last two years we have allocated $50 million to specialist police squads busting drug labs, improving police intelligence and surveillance capabilities, and strengthening border protection.

Tony Ryall, National

P and violent crime. National will make you safer by boosting front-line police numbers to better target violence and drugs, not revenue gathering. We will abolish parole for repeat and violent offenders so that drug dealers do their full sentence in prison. We will confiscate the assets of the drug- dealing gangs to remove their wealth and influence, and toughen criminal non-association laws.

Ron Mark, NZ First

The chronic shortage of front-line police is a critical issue for law and order. Having traffic officers as part of the police force is a failed experiment. New Zealand First will de-merge traffic officers from the police. New Zealand First will also ensure that an extra 1000 officers a year, for the next five years, are added to the police force.

Nandor Tanczos, Greens

Politicians are playing on people's fear of crime for their own political gain and personal insecurity is increasing at a time when crime rates are actually falling. We would use the approach adopted in several Scandinavian countries; a multi-party accord that law and order is not to be used as a political football in elections and solutions are to be bipartisan and based on the evidence of what actually works.

Marc Alexander, United Future

The justice system is neither integrative nor advocates effectively for victims. We will appoint a Victims Minister with inter-ministerial responsibility; enforce strategic collaboration; and raise the certainty of apprehensions (more beat cops), speedier court processes (judge-only night courts), and sentences that are punishments (work programmes, not gyms, TVs, and unearned hot dinners).

Matt Robson, Progressives

The most serious law and order issue is the law and order auction for short-term political gain at the expense of long-term community safety. The Progressive Party advocates investing seriously in effective early intervention programmes.

Stephen Franks, Act

Problem: The official theory that being nice enough for long enough to criminals, might make them nice back.

Act's zero tolerance means not apologising for punishment and making the law mean what it says.

Tariana Turia, Maori Party

The most critical issue facing Aotearoa is the confiscation and the denial of true process imposed on the Treaty partner by the Crown. The Maori Party will follow mana-enhancing behaviour towards all people in society and will extend manaakitanga to those caught up in the criminal justice system, by promoting restorative principles.