Labour slams Sensible Sentencing spokesman

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar has been slammed for what Labour is calling a crass attack on Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

Crime hardliner Mr McVicar yesterday said the commissioner's comments about reducing prison numbers was an "utter disgrace" and called for him to resign.

Labour's law and order spokesman Clayton Cosgrove condemned Mr McVicar's "attack", saying police were still coming to terms with the Pike River mine disaster.

Mr Broad on Wednesday said the traditional model of policing had been very successful sending a wave of criminals into the justice system and jail.

"There are a growing number of people who are sitting there thinking is that the right thing to be doing, to continue to incarcerate our fellow New Zealanders.

"We, along with other government agencies and the community, can actually reduce the incidences of crime, not just reduce the crime rate, but actually have a reduction in the number of victims and the number of offenders."

Mr McVicar said the commissioner had forgotten prison was there to protect the public.

"Not only will the criminals be rejoicing, every victim and potential victim will be shaking their head in utter disbelief - as will most New Zealanders."

"Howard Broad's comments are an insult to victims of crime and his potential to do irreversible damage to the morale and good name of the police is such that he should resign immediately."

Mr Cosgrove said McVicar's comments were insensitive, and Mr Broad was only echoing the views of many New Zealanders.

"As Mr Broad says, surely the best way to stop more Kiwis becoming victims is to prevent crime in the first place. But Mr McVicar is not like many other New Zealanders. Anything that even remotely challenges the sanctity of his views cannot be tolerated," he said.

"What makes me even angrier about Mr McVicar's savage attack on a fine police commissioner is that Mr McVicar is a hypocrite. He wrote a testimonial that helped former ACT MP David Garrett escape a conviction and get permanent name suppression for stealing a baby's identity."

Kim Workman, Rethinking Crime and Punishment director, also criticised McVicar's comments, calling them "outrageous and unjustified".

"Garth would do well to sit down with the commissioner and his staff, and listen carefully to why the commissioner believes that prison is being overused, and turns minor offenders into career criminals.

"If Garth truly has the interests of victims at hear, the would learn that the preventive strategies advocated by the commissioner will do more to reduce the number of victims in our community, than anything the Sensible Sentencing Trust has done, with its constant call for vengeance and retribution," she said.