Posts Tagged ‘Crime’Bully Bennett’s Boot Camps BackYoung Labour is appalled by today’s announcement about the introduction of Boot Camps. “Whilst we obviously welcome the Government’s plans to introduce new holiday opportunities for disadvantaged youth and respite programmes for children in care, the parallel announcement about the introduction of ‘military style activity camps’ despite almost unanimous expert criticism at select committee is deeply worrying.” Young Labour President, Patrick Leyland, said this afternoon. (more…) Unanimous expert criticism of ‘Boot Camp Bill’Young Labour joined the unanimous chorus of criticism of the Government’s ‘Boot Camp Bill’ today at the Social Services select committee. After the second hearing of the Committee on the Bill it is clear that the overwhelming weight of expert opinion is critical of the Government’s plans to introduce military style camps for young offenders, as well as a number of other measures in the Bill. The Hon. Paula Bennett announced last week that the critics of the Bill have missed the point. Yet after two weeks of submissions only one submitter has come out in total support. (more…) National Cops ItToday Young Labour challenged National on its most recent announcement about police numbers in New Zealand. National’s justice spokesperson Simon Power said his party would increase the ratio of police to New Zealanders to 1:500. Currently we have a 1:504 ratio which means National’s policy is to increase the size of the police force by 0.8% increase, or 65 new officers. “National should stop trying to fool people that they are tough on crime, 65 new police officers is a pathetic goal for New Zealand,” says Young Labour President Eric Goddard. (more…) Clark leads the way on sensible resolution on s59The announcement today that an amendment devised by Rt Hon Helen Clark and Sir Geoffrey Palmer will ensure cross party support for repealing Section 59 is welcomed by Young Labour. Sue Bradford’s Private Members Bill seeks to remove the legal defence for abusing children that has seen parents get away with hitting their children with hosepipes and horsewhips. The Young Labour spokesperson for Section 59 repeal, Sonny Thomas, said he was delighted that the result of this amendment would be support for the most vulnerable members of society. “It is fantastic that Helen Clark has prioritised ensuring children get the same protection under the law from physical violence as adults. The amendment reaffirms existing guidelines that the police have for prosecuting cases and does not detract from the intention of the Bill”. (more…) |