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Archived Press Releases 2010 29th March 2010

UNITED NATIONS TOLD TO BUTT OUT

(29th March 2010)

The United Nations Human Rights Committee is getting a public roasting for its criticism of New Zealand's adoption of tasers and the proposal to implement private prisons.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust, who advocate for victims of serious violent crime, said the UN Human Rights Committee was out of order and out of touch and should butt out of New Zealand's affairs.

"This is obviously a touchy feely organisation that has no idea of escalating violence in New Zealand and the physical threats made to our police officers on a daily basis," Trust Spokesman, Garth McVicar, said.

"At present an average of six police are attacked every day in New Zealand and three have been killed while doing their duty in the last 12 months. That’s unacceptable. They are putting their lives on the line to keep us safe and we owe it to them and to their families to make sure they have modern methods to do their job safely."

"I imagine the UN wants us to give these violent thugs a slap on the hand and tell them they have been naughty boys but that won’t do."

"The UN needs to understand that New Zealand , like the rest of the world, is sick of seeing criminals wrapped in cotton wool. Their policies have been given every opportunity to fly but instead they have been a dismal failure."

"The UN has also been critical of the proposal to implement private prisons. But what they have failed to see is that reducing rates of recidivism will be a central part of the contractual obligation of privately run prisons."

"Under the current UN-promoted 'Correctional Institutions' scheme, our prisons have become holiday camps and rates of reoffending have escalated alarmingly. Maybe that is part of the true agenda of the UN – a soaring prison population means they can justify their existence.”

Mr McVicar said unless they offered some constructive, realistic solutions they should butt out of New Zealand's business.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.