Ross Meurant: Solutions to Crime

More Police.

A typical hackneyed political promise which has never produced the results proponents promised, be they Police Association advocates or Paragons of Parliament.

Strategic redeployment of existing police resources to deal with ever changing manifestations of crime (currently ram raids and always, dope trafficking), is the appropriate tactic that the current Police Commissioner should be applying.

Example:  Downsize the current traffic infringement battalion, always highly visible in the more affluent suburbs such as Fendalton, Karori, Remuera, where denizens always pay the fines and never get out of their cars to smash a cop.

Re-deploy these personnel in mufti vehicles (rentals for the duration of the campaign) to maintain surveillance on highly probably targets e.g. Micheal Hill or a grog shop or petrol station, 24/7 with AOS also 24/7 (not call out) ready to immediately respond to any sighting of a bandit pre-strike drive-by reconnaissance, reported by the surveillance officer.  

Rearranging existing personnel to deal with the current crime wave, is the sensible solution.  It might take a month or more and night shift for TOs who otherwise rampage during 7am – 7pm working hours, but definitely a better strategy than hiring and training more cops which is banal posturing at its worst.

Ban Gang patches and the Gangs.

If ever there was an example needed to validate, Stupid Strategy, this would be it.

What is a gang patch?  A military unit coat of arms? A rugby club crest proudly worn on a jacket breast?  A replica of a Maori carving, worn by some to reinforce their self-perceptions?  Where, does one draw the line?   Would my family Coat of Arms (below) be banned?

As a rugby club imposes a code of conduct on its young men (some of whom tend to get pissed and make fools of themselves and/or punch holes in the toilet wall), to behave or be banned and thereby denied interaction with their mates, Gangs have similar codes.

Sports clubs and Gang HQs, provide a haven for young people to enjoy their peers.  

If clubs and Gang HQs did not exist, the streets and public bars/clubs would in all probability have a much bigger problem on their doorsteps than currently they endure.  And, passing public would also be more vulnerable to misbehaving young men.

In my view, banning gang patches or gangs, would not be achievable.

In my view, Gang HQs play as important a role as do sports club HQs.

Banning Gangs?   Dumb.   Very Dumb.  ‘Cause it aint gonna work mate.

As I have previously penned; banning things conservatives don’t like, does not work.

Demand for banned abortions or drugs, drives supply underground.

Akin to prohibition of liquor in the America 1920s, make something illegal, it goes underground.  Abortion and drugs are two standout examples. (1)

Underground criminal activity can produce powerful cabals; cabals which ultimately can ruin if not rule a country.  Take a peek at Ecuador and Haiti at the moment for two examples. 

Addendum: Only a fool would not be concerned that sooner or later the power of international drug cartels will not (a) intrude into our Police and Customs via money or threats to personnel’s families and (b) same thing in Parliament.

In the case of drugs, - well – I have a Facts not Fiction book pending: The Elite Brigade NZ Police, in which I do address matters appurtenant.

Put them in the Army.

Rt Hon Sir Rob Muldoon solution.  It did not happen.  

But, how would Piggy have applied that policy?  Like, who would have been deemed by law, to be conscripted? 

Furthermore, in my view, its not job of the Army to sort out the problems, which are largely an outcome of Courts failing to apply the sanctions Parliament have provided in existing legislation.

Three Stikes and Your Gone?

Utterly unnecessary.  Existing statutory law provides (a) all the powers the police need and (b) penalties which if applied, would rid the streets of repeat offenders. Currently the Crimes Act alone, provides 14 Year imprisonment penalties for assaults, robbery and sex crimes.

It seems to me that the Three Strikes and you’re gone mate, is more aimed at the Judiciary, than it is the offenders.

The Judiciary.

The solution to the crime rate, lies at the doorstep of the Courts.

Equality before the Law, irrespective of race, creed, colour, religion or beliefs (standard NZ Police code when I was a cop).

In my view, too many Court outcomes appear to fail to apply penalties Parliament deemed proper for specified crimes, and this is increasingly obvious when dealing with Māori. 

With Maori having the highest ratio of criminal offending per head of population in NZ, this Judicial trend, definitely contributes to an ongoing hight crime rate.

This Court Room penchant manifests not only in criminal courts but also impacts on constitutional law. 

For example, the Court of Appeal, which ultimately reviewed the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA), which was introduced by John Key’s National Government back in 2011 after it repealed the protection for State ownership as afforded by Rt Hon Helen Clark’s 2004 Foreshore & Seabed Act, came out with a decision in favour of Maori, acknowledging application of the MACA be “difficult to reconcile the text of s 58(1)(b) with the purpose of MACA”.

As Dr Muriel Newman previous concluded: “In other words, since the Judges reasoned that doing what Parliament intended would be perceived as unjust and contrary to MACA’s purpose, they interpreted the law in a way that will ensure virtually all of the tribal claims succeed.” (2)

Parliament is Supreme.

Case Law are interpretations of State Law, that has been approved by a majority in Parliament (it’s called Democracy), which endure until Parliament decides that the Court interpretations are too far from what Parliament intended or wants. 

Because Parliament is the supreme power in New Zealand, it can fix any of the problems the Courts make and/or which emerge from out of nowhere.

The Minister of Police cannot interfere in Police Operations – but the Minister of Police (with consent of the Cabinet – Backbenchers are irrelevant) can produce policy which sets the course that the current Commissioner of Police must follow - or its DCM. (3)

Ross Meurant BA MPP Former Police Inspector.  Former Member of Parliament.  Former Diplomatic Representative.  Company director. Author

(1) https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ross-meurant-the-case-for-decriminalisation/DO3J7EI6CYH5A3GILOD4PZB52Y/                            
(2) https://www.nzcpr.com/court-of-appeal-opens-coast-to-maori-ownership/

(3) DCM?  Don’t Come Monday.