Act to fight crime with drive for zero tolerance

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

Act has launched a "zero tolerance for crime" drive and vows to run it like an election campaign.

The move to repackage the party's existing get-tough-on-crime policies at a launch yesterday underscores the increasing trend of political parties waging a perpetual campaign.

New Zealand First has waged a continual campaign against Government immigration policy, National has started its "one standard of citizenship" drive, and several parties have made increasing use of billboards, usually seen only at election time.

Launching Act's five-point plan in Wellington, leader Richard Prebble said the party would run its campaign like an election campaign.

Rita Croskery, the mother of murdered pizza delivery man Michael Choy and a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, attended the launch to give Act her stamp of approval.

The party will hold meetings around the country to explain its solutions to crime, use email to contact "thousands of householders" and survey New Zealanders.

Mr Prebble said Act had not costed its policies, but it would be nothing like the $6 billion a year it is estimated crime costs the country.

Act had deliberately not put a cost on its policies, because the main function of the Government was to keep the public safe.

"The Government ought to spend whatever is required in order to have a low crime rate. If we had to double the Government's expenditure in fighting crime, so be it."

Under New York's active policing model, police numbers increased from 28,700 in 1993 to 40,000 by the end of 2000.

Mr Prebble said under this model, New Zealand's police force would rise from 7300 to 21,000.

Asked if he was advocating a tripling in police numbers, he said he did not believe New Zealand needed that many police.

"I'm always doubtful about Opposition politicians coming out with a police number, because there's a credibility question of 'How do I know, sitting in Opposition'."

He said the Government was saying it was a resourcing question but Act thought it was a question of priorities. The Government found money for projects it thought were important.

In May, NZ First launched its own campaign to double police numbers. Leader Winston Peters and MP Ron Mark said doubling the force to 14,000 sworn officers over five years would cost $700 million and would be paid for by Budget surpluses.

Mrs Croskery said most of Act's policies were consistent with the trust's own 33-point agenda that was presented to the Government last week during a graphic presentation of the images of murder victims.


Act's five-point plan

Use New York's zero tolerance approach, under which police numbers were boosted and crime cut.

Abolish the parole system, as 49 per cent of released violent criminals reoffend in a year.

Mandatory supervision for all released prisoners that sets tough conditions.

All prisoners and repeat offenders must give DNA samples.

Register of sex offenders so their whereabouts is known.