Massive Surge in Retail Offenses and Assaults Reported in New Zealand
A significant increase in theft and physical assaults has been reported by one of New Zealand’s largest supermarket chains under the current Labour Government, leading to concerns about the state of law and order. The National Party’s Police spokesperson, Mark Mitchell, has expressed disappointment in the rising crime rates and attributes them to the soft-on-crime approach of the Labour Government, led by Chris Hipkins.
Countdown, one of the major supermarket chains in New Zealand, has experienced a staggering surge in reported stolen goods, physical assaults, thefts, and security incidents over the past six years. The figures are alarming; stolen goods have increased by 663 percent, physical assaults by 303 percent, thefts by 326 percent, and security incidents by a staggering 806 percent.
In 2018, there were just over 5,400 reported thefts, but this number has skyrocketed to over 23,000. Similarly, incidents of physical assault have risen from 58 in 2018 to 234. These statistics are consistent with the data collected by the national police, revealing a nationwide doubling of retail crimes under the Labour Government.
Mark Mitchell firmly believes that these rising crime rates are unacceptable, as New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, communities, and places of work and commerce. He argues that Chris Hipkins’ Labour Government has had ample time to address these growing concerns over the past six years but has failed to do so. Instead, the government has focused on reducing the prison population by 30 percent, despite the increase in violent crime and the declining sense of safety among New Zealanders.
In response to this crisis, the National Party has presented a comprehensive plan to combat retail offending, with a particular focus on tackling youth involvement. They propose creating a new category called Young Serious Offenders, which specifically targets ringleaders. Additionally, they aim to establish boot camps to help young offenders redirect their lives towards a more productive path. Empowering community groups is another crucial element of their plan to break the cycle of reoffending.
As the country heads into the upcoming election, voters are faced with a clear choice. They can either support Chris Hipkins’ Coalition of Chaos or opt for a strong and stable National government that pledges to rebuild the economy, reduce the cost of living, restore law and order, and deliver better health and education for all New Zealanders.
The surge in retail offenses and physical assaults reported by Countdown, one of New Zealand’s leading supermarket chains, has raised concerns about the state of law and order under the current Labour Government. National’s Police spokesperson, Mark Mitchell, criticized the Government’s soft-on-crime approach and emphasized the need for a safer environment for all New Zealanders.
Countdown has witnessed a dramatic increase in reported stolen goods, physical assaults, thefts, and security incidents over the past six years. Stolen goods have risen by a staggering 663 percent, physical assaults by 303 percent, thefts by 326 percent, and security incidents by a remarkable 806 percent.
In 2018, there were just over 5,400 thefts, but the number has now surged to over 23,000, while physical assault cases have increased from 58 to 234 during the same period. These statistics mirror the national police data, highlighting a doubling of retail crimes across the entire nation under the Labour Government.
Mark Mitchell expressed his disappointment and called this surge in crime rates unacceptable. He criticized the Labour Government, led by Chris Hipkins, for their failure to effectively address these growing concerns over the past six years. Mitchell argued that the Government’s focus on reducing the prison population by 30 percent, despite the rise in violent crime, has compromised the safety of New Zealanders.
In response, the National Party has put forward a comprehensive plan to combat retail offending, with a specific focus on youth involvement. They propose the establishment of a new Young Serious Offender category to tackle ringleaders, the implementation of boot camps to redirect serious young offenders onto a more productive path, and the empowerment of community groups to break the cycle of reoffending.
As the election approaches, voters are faced with an important decision. They can choose to support Chris Hipkins’ Coalition of Chaos, or they can opt for a strong and stable National government that pledges to revive the economy, reduce the cost of living, restore law and order, and improve healthcare and education for all New Zealanders.
