Pubdate: Wed, 12 Mar 2003
Source: New Zealand Press Association (New Zealand Wire)
Copyright: 2003 New Zealand Press Association

CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS, CRIME, NEEDED - MPS

A crackdown on gangs and the methamphetamine industry would go a long way to
reducing crime, Opposition MPs said today.

Police yesterday released crime statistics for last year, which showed the
total number of reported offences was up 13,603 - from 426,526 in 2001 to
440,129 in 2002.

Homicides rose from 93 in 2001 to 122 in 2002. Homicide includes murder,
attempted murder, illegal abortion and aiding suicide.

The 66 murders investigated countrywide last year compared with 53 in 2001
and 56 in 2000. There were usually around 50 to 60 murders a year, police
said.

Despite the new figures, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson said that over the
last six years, recorded crime had dropped by 7.8 per cent against a
population increase of 4.3 per cent.

Police resolved 41.9 per cent of crimes last year - 5458 more than in 2001,
despite more offences.

Mr Robinson said there were "some matters before the courts" that suggested
increased methamphetamine use was a factor in some crime.

Last year, police put 147 clandestine methamphetamine laboratories out of
action. Police Association president Greg O'Connor also said drugs were
behind the increases.

"The rises in violence, especially homicides and grievous assaults, reflect
the methamphetamine epidemic and associated crime that goes with this," Mr
O'Connor said.

National's police spokesman, Tony Ryall, said the only way to stop the rise
in crime was more police on the streets and a crackdown on the
methamphetamine industry.

He said the Government was not doing enough about crime and called the
statistics "appalling".

He noted the rise in homicides, non-cannabis drug offences, sex attacks,
robberies and burglary.

"... there has to be a stronger police presence on the streets, instead of
giving out tickets on the highways. And there has to be a co-ordinated
crackdown on the hotbed of violence - gangs and the supply of
methamphetamine," Mr Ryall said.

He said the drug was "driving burglary and the increasingly random acts of
violence".

New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark said something needed to
be done " about this worrying situation." He said it was obvious police were
under-resourced.

The Government had been slack on juvenile crime and the youth justice system
was too lenient. He called for gangs to be outlawed.

"These latest figures, as well as recent revelations that show gang members
outnumber police three to one, give clear evidence that the authorised
police staffing level is totally inadequate," he said in a statement.

"There must be a substantial increase in the number of police if we are to
ever control escalating violent crime."

ACT justice spokesman Stephen Franks said the statistics understated the
true impact of crime.

"Internationally crime victimisation surveys are a more consistent measure
of success or failure in criminal justice policy," he said.

He accused the Government of "reworking" the figures because they were
likely to be embarrassing.

"Increases in police crime figures represent thousands more people who have
been stolen from, robbed and raped.

But where are the victimisation figures?" he asked.

Police Minister George Hawkins called the statistics "disappointing", but
said it was pleasing to see the crime rate per head of population continued
to trend downwards.
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