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Law and Order Policy |
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Policy Overview
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United Future recognises that personal security and a safe society for families depends on an integrated and balanced policy. We believe that early intervention and identification of the causes of crime are essential to breaking the cycle of criminal activity. United Future supports tougher sentencing for violent crimes, signifying that criminal activity will not be tolerated. We appreciate the suffering that victims of crimes endure and are committed to ensuring that they receive the support and reparation they deserve. We will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We will ensure sufficient funding is provided to our police and other programmes so that effective action is taken to make our communities safe again.
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Safe Communities for Families
The well being of families and communities, social stability and law and order depends on all age groups taking responsibility. Support must be given to lawful community initiatives, which work at making our streets safe for families.
United Future considers the issue of police staffing has been extremely politicised with parties bidding for support, with figures of 500 extra staff that have no demographic or operational basis. We believe that there has to be a transparent staffing formula that fairly provides for increases or decreases in police numbers and gives a reserve to meet special problems in particular areas.
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United Future Will:
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Ensure that every area is guaranteed a minimum number of police according to population. 800 for urban and town areas and 600 for rural areas.
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Extra police will be provided for areas where the crime rate exceeds the national average. As police get on top of crime in areas these numbers will be reduced. However, because of the population formula above, there will always be a basic minimum of police available to the public.
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United Future believes that there should be a deployable reserve of up to 100 police that can be deployed in an area that is having a particular problem.
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Encourage the establishment of a national community network of Emergency Readiness Groups providing neighbourhood support, first aid and emergency preparation
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Encourage the use by local communities and retailers of approved security wardens and cameras to monitor shopping areas and public places.
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Strongly oppose the decriminalisation of cannabis and institute an education program against all drug use in schools.
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Get tough on truancy by establishing a national, centralised database to track student enrolment and attendance.
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Legislate on child pornography to close legal loopholes used by internet dealers
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Commit to lowering the road toll by: Institute a zero blood alcohol level for all drivers under the age of 25 Compulsory testing for drugs of drivers involved in accidents causing injury. Legislate so that vehicles on the road driven by a disqualified driver are impounded immediately. Properly address national and regional road finding priorities to remove danger areas, for example the need for Transmission Gully road north of Wellington.
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Legislate for compulsory third party insurance, conditional on the issue of a warrant of fitness.
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United Future supports quashing convictions for certain minor offences, where there has been no offending for seven consecutive years.
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