Police pledge: no safety in numbers

Thursday, 18 January 2007

Debnam’s police pledge: no safety in numbers

Greens MP and police spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says Opposition Leader Peter Debnam’s pledge of 1100 more police will not make communities safer or reduce crime.

“Peter Debnam’s announcement represents his futile tussle with the Iemma government to win the law and order vote at the cost of public service jobs,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“The Opposition Leader is pursuing an American style model of ‘zero tolerance’ policing which will fail to find real, long term solutions to crime.

“Mr Debnam is happy to exploit the community’s fear of crime in the same way he exploits race.

“NSW is shaping up as the Police State, with the major parties’ race to out-bid each other with more police who will be armed with unprecedented new powers and weapons.

“Research shows just increasing police numbers will have little impact on crime.

“A recent US study showed an increase in police numbers of 10% only reduced crime by very small margins.

“The community deserves more intelligent and strategic policing and preventative measures to tackle family stress, economic disadvantage, drug and alcohol abuse.

“Youth crime is in the headlines, but the solution is not to increase police numbers but invest in prevention and diversion programs.

“Young people in trouble need supportive community workers, schools and safe homes.

“More police will drain the budget available to fund innovative solutions to crime.

“The major parties are beating a tired old law and order drum.

“Debnam and Iemma are content to misuse public money, while ignoring research that points the way to a more successful crime solutions,” Ms Rhiannon said.