Thursday 14 January 2010

COALITION POLICY TO PROTECT GIPPSLANDERS FROM VIOLENT CRIME

Member for Gippsland South and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan has welcomed a Victorian Liberal National Coalition policy to crack down on violent crime and assault.

Mr Ryan said Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu announced today that a Coalition Government would scrap suspended sentences and home detention.

“Crime rates in regional Victoria have skyrocketed under the Brumby Government,” Mr Ryan said.

“The latest official crime statistics show that over the past year alone assault has risen by almost nine per cent in the Wellington police service area (PSA).

“In the Bass Coast PSA, which includes Foster, Leongatha & Korumburra, property crime has increased by 17.2 per cent.

“The Brumby Government is out of touch with the needs of regional Victorians.

“Labor has gone soft on crime and Gippsland is paying the price.”

Mr Ryan said across Victoria between 6000 and 7000 suspended sentences were handed out each year.

“The statistics show the Brumby Government’s soft approach towards crime is not working,” Mr Ryan said.

“About 27.5 per cent of the suspended sentences handed out in Victoria are breached.

“Appallingly, in 37.2 per cent of cases where those orders were breached, offenders were released back into the community without serving any real jail time.

“The Brumby Government’s home detention policy has also failed. Since 2004, 425 prisoners have been released into home detention, many before they have served even a minimum sentence.

“People convicted of armed robbery, aggravated burglary or intentionally and recklessly causing injury are eligible for home detention under Labor’s system.

“It is very difficult for Gippsland residents to have faith in a justice system that is failing to hand out sentences to fit the crimes being committed,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Coalition’s policy will deliver long overdue legislative reform to address crime rates in Gippsland and restore honesty to sentencing.”