Bill’s big policy flop

26 comments on “Bill’s big policy flop ”

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1. Stuff The Politicians 1

   2 February 2017 at 5:16 pm

   All is well and good allocating funds for 880 extra Police , but it is what they do with the extra staff that really matters.

   If they are going to continue to have them sitting on the sides of our highways , then nothing will change.
   We will still have the same old stories every day, assaults , burglaries, etc going unsolved.

   Then the only thing that will happen is more revenue going into the Governments coffers, ironically to cover the cost of the extra coppers in the first place.
2. mosa 2

   2 February 2017 at 5:41 pm

   Funny the money is now available for extra police eight months out from a general election when campaigning in Key in 2008 said he was going to sort out what was in his opinion a serious crime problem and has under resourced police nationwide ever since.
   • michelle 2.1

     3 February 2017 at 9:44 am

     he also said Mosa he was going to get rid of p and we have an epidemic the problem is he said a lot of things to make people happy but he didn’t walk his talk and we are all paying for his gross incompetence
     • mosa 2.1.1

       3 February 2017 at 1:13 pm

       Yes Michelle it is appalling that with regards to Meth and the serious problem we have with it that it was just an empty promise and he had no intention of doing anything…Of course there was no money or celebrity status involved.
3. Leftie 3

   2 February 2017 at 6:48 pm

   “On the police announcement, he’s given a skinny version of Labour’s policy that we announced last year and all of that confirms, that what we all suspect, that this is a prime minister who is a follower, not a leader. It is right to increase police numbers, but this is a policy we announced in the middle of last year, he’s got now, just months out from an election, to decide to do something about it, when we know the problem has been around for a long time.
   Less than a year ago, he was the finance minister, who signed off on a 4 year freeze on police numbers, less than a year later, he is now saying we need more police, he’s a follower, not a leader.”

   <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/89016595/first-big-election-year-promise–880-new-cops
   • NZJester 3.1

     2 February 2017 at 10:21 pm

     It is typical National party policy though these days to take a popular labor policy and cut it down a bit so it is far less effective. It’s all about looking like they are doing something while doing bugger all.
   • mosa 3.2

     3 February 2017 at 1:15 pm

     Spot on as usual Leftie.
4. chris73 4

   2 February 2017 at 6:54 pm

   Judging by the love I’ll take it Bill did pretty well then
5. Keith 5

   2 February 2017 at 7:41 pm

   But will they? National have a solid track history of promising much then either not delivering or robbing Peter to pay Paul.

   When they promised to boost numbers in Counties Manukau, which they did, they then slashed the police budget then froze what was left. CM ended up with a sinking lid policy for staffing and every other district have suffered monumentally from a lack of resources.

   Its all piss and wind, National cannot be trusted!
6. The Chairman 6

   2 February 2017 at 7:53 pm

   “National has overseen the rise in crime”

   Indeed. English was Finance Minister and rising tobacco taxes has resulted in far more crime.
   • Lloyd 6.1

     3 February 2017 at 2:44 am

     Would have been a lot higher if the highest crime age hadn’t been better cared for by Labour’s policies than they are now. The nats have been benefitting from Helen’s years in power and will leabe a horrible legacy for future governments with the latest generation of disadvantaged youth. Yes we will need more police. Unfortunately they and the prison service will cost more than the education and welfare services that the youth of today should have been getting for the last 8 years
     • saveNZ 6.1.1

       3 February 2017 at 8:38 am

       +1 Lloyd – best way to reduce crime – better teachers, better pre school care for kids, better health, better society, better anger management courses, better night school classes, better drug and alcohol treatment centres.

       Not sure what it is now, but apparently a large percentage of people in prison are illiterate.

       In my view most people don’t want to be criminals but have few other choices if their lives are already out of control as children and youths.

       Police should be the ambulance at the bottom on the cliff.
     • The Chairman 6.1.2

       3 February 2017 at 12:26 pm

       Rising tobacco taxes also results in further fiscal hardship for those that continue to smoke, compounding the problem.

       Although they can act as a deterrent to some extent, the police are generally called upon after a crime has been committed.

       Therefore, the solution to reduce crime is not more police. The solution is addressing the root causes of crime, such as rising tobacco taxes, poverty, education, mental health, employment opportunities and the role alcohol plays.
7. Whispering Kate 7

   2 February 2017 at 9:07 pm

   So the 800 cops and extra civilian staff will be drip fed over the next four years – sounds good when you first hear it but its a bit of a fizzer all round – somebody has already said it will probably go on highway police to get the speeding fines in to pay for the salaries of the extra force.

   Pork barrel politics will be all we hear from now until the election. Funny how they can always find the cash when they want to. Doesn’t impress me one bit.
   • NZJester 7.1

     2 February 2017 at 10:32 pm

     They have mostly been finding the cash they same way since they inherited the virtually debt free government coffer from Labour. They will be borrowing it to pay for these policies while giving the rich more tax breaks when they could have used that money to pay for it instead of borrowing us even more into debt.
   • shorts 7.2

     3 February 2017 at 9:29 am

     Bennett on RNZ this morning said none of them would be used for traffic

     Saying that we are well versed in her alt-truthiness
8. The Real Matthew 8

   2 February 2017 at 10:56 pm

   My guess is the focus groups liked the Labour “tough on crime” policy
9. One Two 9

   3 February 2017 at 12:05 am

   Address the causes of the issues!

   Unless that is happening, or being put forward as hard policy

   They’re all lying..

   Which of course, they are
10. Anthony 10

    3 February 2017 at 8:12 am

    Caption time:

    “Missed it by that much” (Thanks, Get Smart)
11. Cinny 11

    3 February 2017 at 9:20 am

    After letting criminal activity get out of control, not looking after the people on the front line (dairy owners etc), and after all the public outcry about escalating crime rates, now they want to do something during election year.

    We needed change and action before things became so bad, not a sticking plaster.

    It’s one thing to have more police, but it’s another thing to come up with an action plan to stop so much crime in our communities.

    What if i told you the best way to “get tough on crime” is to eliminate poverty through education?
    Would you believe me?

    More police is not going to solve the problem Bill, it runs much deeper than that, a change of government is what is really needed, because the current government has failed on crime.
    • greywarshark 11.1

      3 February 2017 at 9:45 am

      Cinny
      You come up with thoughtful ideas. I am looking for people to be part of the first of a study group that reads a set book relating to politics and people over a month, taking notes, and then at the end of the month there will be a discussion post on it on The Standard on a Sunday. To start off we are taking a long view and looking back to what economist E F Schumacher said in 1977 when he wrote Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered. The book isn’t big so its just a matter of reading a bit each week when there is time. Would you like to be in? Would you give a yes or no by replying to this today if poss thanks.
      • Cinny 11.1.1

        3 February 2017 at 1:53 pm

        Hey there 😀 I saw that thread, and am very interested, but as always it is a time factor, but then again it is something that one would be wise to make time for, love to learn.

        Yes I’m in, will see if it’s at the library, and thanks for asking, much appreciated 😀
        • greywarshark 11.1.1.1

          3 February 2017 at 2:04 pm

          Cinny
          That’s great. I really like your ideas and it will be great to have you along. Weka says it isn’t an onerous read, she was quick but then probably a classy reader quick on the uptake, for me it will take a bit longer. But that’s why we thought a month for it before the big discussion. There will be a post on 12 Feb and should have good info and how to get hold of it, fairly inexpensively.
          So pleased you are able to join in.

          At the library: don’t forget to do a search on-line if short of time. If they have it it may be in the stack at the back, ask at desk.
          E F Schumacher: Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered.
12. tc 12

    3 February 2017 at 9:38 am

    Aside from the usual bs shell game Nats play with police numbers and crime stats I often wonder how has the force been reduced in its effectiveness by a lack of capital investment I.e. Vehicles, stab vests, accomodation etc

    A booming rural town can’t even have its new officer and family live there as they sold the police house he would’ve stayed in, and there is nothing else available.

    More flogging of houses and property required to provide a vital service by national.
    • s y d 12.1

      3 February 2017 at 10:57 am

      more cops – more prisoners, serco happy.
13. Smilin 13

    3 February 2017 at 2:09 pm

    its going to require more tax dollars, whats the bet GST will be going up and fuel tax with the predicted rise to 70$+ a barrel plus a rise in fines
    Yet the company tax wont rise cause Key set that in stone probably with the demands of his banker corp mates
    And when Holden finally shuts down how much are our cop vehicles going to cost and from whom ?
    How broke are we going to get ?
    So will the increase in numbers of police really do anything to prevent crime ?

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