3. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does he stand by his statement “I know that one of the key reasons Kiwis elected National is because they trusted us to take the tough steps needed to tackle violent crime and make families safer in their home and communities”?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister) Link to this
Yes, and the Government has followed through on that by passing 11 new pieces of legislation, with three more having been introduced, that toughen up on sentences, parole, and bail for violent offenders, improve police powers, crack down on gangs and P, and support crime victims.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
How much safer are New Zealand families, when the crime statistics released today show that the increase in crime under National is bigger than it was in any calendar year under the previous Labour Government and that violent crime has risen by 9.2 percent?
The Government has taken seriously the need to get on top of the rising momentum of violent crime over the last decade. We are backing the police with a wide range of tools, which they appreciate and which the public believe will be effective in dealing with that rising momentum of violent crime.
David GarrettDoes the Prime Minister expect the “three strikes” legislation that has now been reported back to the House will make a difference to violent crime in New Zealand?
Yes; that is why the Government supports that legislation. The “three strikes” legislation will send a very clear message to serious, recidivist offenders that they will be dealt with severely. The legislation will also make it less likely that serious, recidivist offenders will be able to continue to commit crime, because they will be locked up.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Which communities are feeling safer now than they were before the election, considering that 10 out of the 12 police districts in New Zealand experienced an increase in crime in 2009, six of those on the back of a decrease in crime under the previous Labour Government?
Those communities, and all communities, are looking forward to the benefits of an increase in police numbers, tougher sentences, tighter parole management, tighter rules for bail on violent offenders, improved police powers, and a crackdown on gangs and P. I must say that all the reports coming out of, for instance, South Auckland are that the higher police numbers and smarter policing are making that community feel safer.
Has the Prime Minister seen evidence that defining a “strike” as a conviction plus a qualifying offence would greatly reduce the effect of the “three strikes” policy?
There has been a lot of discussion about the definition of a “strike” and the definition of an offence. The Government has supported the general principle that dealing more harshly with serious, recidivist offenders will make the community safer, because those criminals will be locked up.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
If, as Simon Power said, 54 murders in a year was an example of violence running wild, what would he call a massive 25 percent increase in murders in 2009 under his watch, leading to the highest murder rate in 10 years?
I am sure that Mr Power would regard any increase in the murder rate as being completely unacceptable, and that is why he has been the prime driver in this Government in passing a series of law changes that will give the police more tools—and the criminals more consequences—to deal with violent crime.
Su’a William SioWhy did he tell Counties-Manukau police in March: “Provisional statistics suggest crime in the region is dropping”, and: “Already, people in Counties-Manukau are noticing a change for the better”, when the crime statistics released today show that Counties-Manukau had an increase in every category of crime in 2009 and, in many cases, on the back of decreases in the year before that?
That member would know as well as anyone that both the previous Government and the current Government have put considerable effort and resources into reducing crime in South Auckland. Our discussions with the police have been to the effect that they believe the increase in police numbers and the changes in their methods of policing, alongside the work done under the previous Government in respect of youth gangs, will have a significant impact on crime in South Auckland.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Can the Prime Minister now tell us exactly when he will deliver on his promised priority to make our streets safer for Kiwis, rather than using every excuse he can find, which is what he and his police Minister have done today, as an excuse for inaction and not delivering?
The Prime Minister has delivered on his promises. The Government has passed 11 new laws, with three more to come, that toughen up on sentences, parole, and bail, increase police numbers, improve police powers, and crack down on gangs and on P. The people who have been making excuses are in the Labour Party, which has not supported all the measures that are needed to get on top of the rising momentum of violent crime.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Why does he not honour his promise and be accountable for the explosion in violent crime in New Zealand under his watch, rather than making excuses, bearing in mind that he said before the election: “Clark may offer excuses but I say this: not on my watch. National will do better at preventing crime and we will do better at cracking down on criminals.”?