Taking back our Communities

I have huge respect for our Police. They have the unenviable task of keeping our communities safe. That job has become much harder. Some people see the Police as the enemy, fair game when they interrupt them in their illegal endeavours.

The two recent incidents of serious assault on Police in Dunedin are examples of this abhorrent and unacceptable behaviour. This is not a game. The Police go to work each day wanting to make a positive contribution to our community; to feel as though our place is better for their efforts. They do not expect to be routinely abused, spat at, fled from, and assaulted.

I’ve seen some blogs in response to Mayor Dave Cull’s comments on the attacks. They reject his call that the community take responsibility, and suggest that what is needed is politicians to get some backbone, make the hard calls and change the laws to stop such attacks happening. I’ll return to the merits of that view later. But it is worth remembering that no government in recent history has done more to build a safer New Zealand than this National-led Government.

We’ve put more police on the beat. Six hundred extra officers will be on our streets by the end of this year. They now have more tools including expanded DNA collection, and on-the-spot protection orders to combat domestic violence. Parole is harder to get and sentences for our worst repeat offenders will be longer.

We’ve declared war on gangs and P. Police have new powers to intercept gang communications, dismantle drug fortifications, and seize the proceeds of crime.

We’re making progress with the Alcohol Reform Bill. This focuses on minimising alcohol related-harm including crime. It zeros in on where harm is happening – particularly around young people.

But this is also a community responsibility. Governments can pass laws continuously but unless the community is prepared to support those laws with a low threshold for anti-social behaviour, unless we become concerned neighbours again, and above all respect the Police who keep us safe, those laws will be far less effective.

Over to you.