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Archived Press Releases 2007 21st May 2007

CALL TO GET TOUGH ON BOY RACERS GAINS SUPPORT

(21st May 2007)

The call by Tauranga M P Bob Clarkson to confiscate boy racer cars has gained support from a prominent law and order lobby group.

Mr Clarkson made the call after 20 year old Scott Finn was killed instantly while watching an illegal drag race in Mt Maunganui over the weekend.

The Tauranga MP said the solution was simple, "Take the damn car off them and don’t give it back."

Mr Clarkson also proposed strengthening legislation to ensure that if someone broke the law more than once, he or she would automatically lose the car for good.

His call to get tough on boy racers has gained the backing of the Sensible Sentencing Trust with Trust spokesman Garth McVicar saying Mr Clarkson was showing the sort of leadership sadly lacking in both local and central government today.

"Bob Clarkson is saying what 90 percent of the community knows, the current politically correct soft on crime – soft on the causes of crime experiment has been a dismal failure."

"Young people need boundaries – and they need to be held accountable and responsible for their behaviour – the current soft on crime experiment has been a dismal failure."

Mr McVicar said, "Prisons are now overflowing with confused youth who have been brought up in a totally false environment of not being responsible or accountable for their actions."

The Sensible Sentencing Trust was calling on all local and central government leaders to follow Mr Clarksons example. A united and cohesive effort is badly needed to bring some ownership and accountability back into a society that has forgotten the meaning of the words.

"The excuse driven mentality is causing more young people to commit crime than ever before – good on you Bob Clarkson."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.