Labour’s ‘soft on crime’ credentials have received yet another confirmation. Frontline police have been told to “consider necessity of arrests”, because apparently the prisons are full; despite the policy of emptying them out over the last six years.
Some frontline police have been told to “consider necessity of arrests” in some circumstances because one of the country’s largest prisons is nearly full.
The email, seen by the Herald on Sunday, was sent to staff in Wellington on Friday.
Titled “custody of remand detainees” the email from a senior sergeant says due to Rimutaka Prison being at “near maximum occupancy”, the District Custody Unit (DCU) would begin caring for the overflow of Corrections remand detainees when required.
It warns that: “Repeat breach of bail and warrant offenders may be remanded in Police custody for a prolonged period. Arresting officers should consider this before making an arrest.”
NZ Herald
That’s simply ‘catch and release’ – there really is no other way to describe it.
The directive has confused some officers and been slammed by National – and will be a headache for new Police Minister Ginny Andersen who is less than four weeks into the job. Law and order is shaping up as an election year battleground – and as Labour tries to deflect criticism it is soft on crime.
The email to officers said that approval from the unit sergeant was also required and arresting officers were told to call before transporting detainees.
DCU section staff would care for the remand detainees and the District Command Centre would ask area public safety teams to help run overnight arrest hearings in the Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wellington District Courts.
The arrangement would be in place until further notice, the email said.
NZ Herald
At a time where we are seeing increased street violence, ram raids, armed robberies and smash and grabs, this is simply bizarre. And it serves to confirm that Labour are crim-hugging social justice tossers.
Labour can no longer say they are working to protect our communities. They’d rather criminals are free-range and un-constrained to continue their crime sprees unabated.
The election can’t come soon enough.
Catch and release is for fish, not criminals.
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