escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links for full page descriptions

Archived Press Releases 2008 9th May 2008

NEW YORK POLICING WILL LOWER PRISON MUSTER

(9th May 2008)

The New York tough-on-crime approach will lower crime and the prison population says the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar was commenting after Canterbury police district commander, Superintendent Dave Cliff released details of the New York style policing regime he is instituting in Christchurch.

"We absolutely support the initiatives the Christchurch police are adopting. The New York "Broken Windows" approach is all about drawing a line in the sand – the result will be a reduction in crime and ultimately a reduction in the prison population."

Mr McVicar said that New Zealand had progressively implemented a disastrous politically correct social experiment by removing the lines and boundaries for youth. "The law abiding public have been used as puppets and we are paying the price for that now."

"Many communities are being plagued by graffiti and vandalism which are presently treated as petty crime, but are in fact the doorway to more serious offending. We believe the classifying of these crimes as petty has been a dominating factor in the increase in youth violence New Zealand is currently experiencing."

"The Sensible Sentencing Trust totally supports the Christchurch police approach, we believe it will ultimately divert youth from a career of crime."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.