National welcomes Police Association policies

National Party Police spokesman Chester Borrows welcomes the Police Association's law and order policy document. 

"This is an encouraging document from the men and women out there protecting our streets, and we should be taking very careful note of what they say.

"It's a positive way forward for policing in this country.

"In fact, many of the proposals mirror exactly National's law and order policies which have been announced."

They include:

• DNA sampling.
• Enabling police to issue on-the-spot domestic violence protection orders.
• Qualified support for the introduction of Tasers.
• Retaining 17-year-old offenders in adult courts, and bringing 12- and 13-year-olds into the jurisdiction of the Youth Court.
• Reversing the 2007 changes to the bail laws.

"Although the Police Association support policies, not parties, it's clear from this document that National's attitude to tackling crime is exactly in line with that of rank and file police.

"Our policing policy, which was announced at the association's annual conference last November, are all in this document, as are our policies on youth justice, which were released by John Key in January this year.

"It was only after those announcements, and amid vocal support for them from the police and the public, that the Labour-led Government did something and adopted some of them.

"As usual, National looks forward to working with the Police Association and its members to build safer communities.

"Our police men and women are to be congratulated on this document."