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Archived Press Releases 2003 August 31st

"Broken Windows" the Way to Go!

(31st August 2003)

Murder reduced by a staggering 70%, crime drops by 65%, prisons becoming redundant, lower taxes and unemployment and a revitalised community. Dreaming, did I hear you say?

Can't happen in New Zealand? Yes it can, according to the Sensible Sentencing Trust National Spokesperson. Mr McVicar said he attended a presentation by Rudolf Giuliani in Auckland last week, and came away totally convinced that this is the path New Zealand must take if we are to win the fight against crime.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is encouraging the Government to adopt the "Broken Windows" crime fighting policy that has proved so successful in New York. At the time Rudolf Giuliani was elected Mayor in 1993, New York had a reputation for being one of the most violent cities in the world, crime was rampant, and murder was a daily occurrence and on the rise.

Today the transformation is unbelievable, the huge reductions in all categories of crime and rejuvenated communities are the fantastic achievements of a Mayor and a city that simply said "Enough is Enough" and took an unprecedented stand against crime, and held criminals responsible for even the smallest of offences. Mr McVicar said the results and comparisons are there for all to see.

New York's violent crime is decreasing while ours continues to escalate, we continue to increase taxes and build more prisons, while New York is reducing taxes and closing prisons.

The "Broken Windows" policy is simply holding offenders accountable and responsible for their actions at an early stage rather than encouraging them to become career criminals as we do in this country. Why can't we do that in New Zealand?

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.