Police News Dec 08.indd - New Zealand Police Association

New Zealand Police AssociationDNA records would be required to bedestroyed where charges are dropped orwhere suspects are found not guilty;• Giving police officers the power to issuetime-bound on-the-spot protectionorders to help protect victims ofdomestic violence;• An immediate introduction of a Victims’Compensation Scheme funded by a levyon criminals;• An increase in maximum sentences foroffenders who commit acts of violenceand abuse against children. This willinvolve an amendment to the Crimes andSentencing Acts to increase sentencesfor assaulting a child, for manslaughterfollowing a history of child abuse, forfailure to provide the necessities of life,for child cruelty, and for wilful neglect ofa child; and• An increase in drug and alcoholrehabilitation and compulsory workprogrammes for prisoners.No work, no paroleMr Key gave a commitment that in its firstyear in office a National Government would“make it absolutely explicit” that thoseprisoners who are able to work and refuse todo so would not be eligible for parole.Mr Key said that by 31 December 2011,National would boost the number ofprisoners learning industry-based skillsthrough Corrections Inmate Employmentby at least 1,000. It would also double thenumber of prisoners who are able to receiveintensive drug and alcohol treatment to1,000 by the same year.He said that as a country New Zealand had“failed to do enough to intercept young kidswho are running off the rails and put themback on the rails.””When offenders are placed in our prisons,we fail to make any meaningful progresswith rehabilitation or even to keep themfree from the drugs that play a major part inmuch of their behaviour,” he added.Failures compoundedHe said that failure was compounded by bail,sentencing and parole laws, which allowedhardened criminals back into communitieswhen it is “abundantly obvious” that they willre-offend.He said National’s Action Plan for ViolentCrime would take “the practical stepsnecessary to start addressing these failuresand to squarely face the challenge ofescalating violent crime.”Mr Key said he was keen to acknowledge“the very real and unique view that policeofficers have of their communities”. He addedthat National supported retaining policeofficers being able to serve their communitiesin an elected position at local levels.Mr Key said that his party “intended to backthe people who wear the Police uniform.”Expectations of professionalismIn tandem with that backing he wouldexpect high standards of conduct andprofessionalism, an enforcement of thelaw without fear or favour and total politicalneutrality.He also said that where police found thelaws passed by Parliament to be deficient forthese purposes, he wanted to hear “franklyand clearly what changes need to be madeso we can make them work”.He said it was time to bring common senseto attacking the way law and order problems“so seriously worry our communities”.In closing Mr Key said that he “greatlyvalued and admired” the work that is donedaily by police officers and that he wouldcontinue to value their input and would backthem to do the job well.“If I am elected by New Zealand to be PrimeMinister, you, the New Zealand Police, willenjoy my strong personal support. And Imost sincerely hope that with our combinedattention to good law making and goodpolicing we will be able to make a realdifference,” he told the conference in closing.• WE ARE AMUSED: National Party Law and Order spokesman Chester Borrows, National Party Leader John Key, Association President GregO’Connor and Police Association Vice-President Stu Mills share a light-hearted moment after Mr Key suggested that a delegate should solve theconcerns he had raised by “joining the National Party”.December 2008279