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Archived Press Releases 2005 29th March 2005

Prime Minister "Out of Touch"

(29th March 2005)

A criminal Justice Watchdog group has accused the Prime Minister of being totally out of touch with reality.

Commenting on a statement released by the Prime Minister Helen Clark that the police were "ill advised" to send a letter to victims of crime telling them their cases will not be followed up, the Sensible Sentencing Trust have leapt to the defence of the Police.

Trust Spokesman, Garth McVicar said it was the Prime Minister who was "ill advised" and totally out of touch with reality.

"The police are dealing with angry and frustrated victims of crime every day; it must be incredibly galling for a policeman who loves his job to have to tell these victims they do not have the man power or resources to respond to their plea for help" Mr McVicar said.

"We have tremendous sympathy for our Police; they are under resourced and over worked as it is, they are already muzzled and restricted from speaking out on contentious issues that may upset those in "high places".

"To now be told who they can and can’t write to is political interference at an unprecedented level".

"Coming hard on the heels of the recently released and blatantly misleading crime statistics this statement from the Prime Minister smacks of hypocrisy".

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.