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Archived Press Releases 2009 20th March 2009

OFFICIALS USING INFLAMATORY TACTICS – WATCHDOG

(20th March 2009)

Foreign Affairs officials are using scare tactics to promote their own agenda says a victims watchdog organisation.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust say the officials who have advised the Government that its hardline sentencing policies will damage New Zealand’s international reputation have their heads in the sand and are using alarmist methods to try and scare the Government.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said the officials use words such as, ‘most likely, potentially or probably’, "It appears to me that they have an agenda of their own, they must be totally blind if they can’t see that New Zealand’s international reputation is already damaged – by the escalating level of violent crime involved in random attacks on our tourists."

"Tourism is one of New Zealand ’s biggest earners, we rely on tourist dollars, we market ourselves as a clean, green, safe destination but in reality that is far from true."

McVicar said he couldn’t believe the mentality of whoever gave the advice, "Don’t they realize that every time a tourist is robbed, maimed or murdered that our international reputation is being damaged?"

"The National/ Act Government was elected on a promise to get tough on crime, they would be well advised to ignore these officials and do what they promised"

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.