As seen on Pundit

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I'm wondering whether the punitive politics in New Zealand have become so ingrained in the way our politicians think, so powerful, that many in parliament have simply stopped looking at law and order through any other lens. - Tim Watkin

The single largest factor driving the prison industry is our drug policy....

[http://pundit.co.nz/content/punitive-political-group-think-rules-jaccuse-too] 

It is creating the very problem it set out to solve.

It is undoubtedly a class war, racially applied by those imbued with white privilege, and largely at the behest of the USA for whom imprisonment is the gold standard of therapy....

Civic leaders and those sceptical of the level of expenditure and thus displacement of resources that could be better spent, I would direct them to consider (even if only to read) the Prague Declaration (or similarly, the Vienna Declaration on which it is primarily based)

see http://www.praguedeclaration.com/files/catalogue/2-PrgDeclEN.pdf

Blair Anderson  ‹(•¿•)›

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• AIDS 2010, and Three Former Presidents sign Vienna Declaration (drugwarrant.com)

Full-body Armour for Police?

Police consider full-body armour as assaults increase
(or Iraqi style militarised Police for warrant serving?)

10:00AM Monday July 28, 2008 NZH - Police culture

Increasing violence against police could result in officers being kitted out in full-body armour. Police headquarters has confirmed it is considering full-body protection for frontline staff, as the number of assaults on officers continues to rise.

They have yet to determine exactly what sort of armour would be used but The Dominion Post reported that the possibilities ranged from extra protection for arms and legs to an all-over suit - similar in appearance to that in the film Robocop.

The number of assaults against police increased to 2248 last year, the equivalent of one in four officers being assaulted. In 2006, there were 2123 assaults on police. Of the 2007 incidents, 88 involved a weapon, including a gun or knife. Police began a $10.4 million programme last year, to provide stab-proof vests to every frontline officer. There were delays because of size and heat problems. Police said discussions about new armour were at an early stage. Any upgraded protection would be reserved for police called to deal with disorder incidents. The Police Association said it had not heard of the proposal.

- NZPA

recommended reading:
Civilian Forces Acquiring Army-Style Look, Approach

POLICE DEVELOP 'MILITARY MIND SET' / by Diane Cecilia Weber

Needless to say, the madness around meth is driving this shite.
/Blair

Sniffer dog checks bite into our civil liberties

Following the broader issues relating to civil society it is increasingly seen as acceptable that 'dogs' are able to give evidential 'cause for suspicion' based on the inherent quality of its nose, the efficacy of its training, the enviroment it is in, the ability of its handler to not give cues, and of course... as we are all paying the bill here, the cost benefit that demonstrates any outcomes.

It authored by a chap that I know through my work in drug policy [· Sebastian Saville is executive director of drugs charity Release.]

However, while the core initiative is about targeting drugs and drug users and it is another jurisdiction, the increasingly 'get tough' calls for more police and resources to catch 'neer do wells' will inevitably bring up policy and actions that are being 'seen to be doing something'. This is one such case. A case I would argue that the 'end does not justify the means', it was published in the British newspaper, the Guardian. see http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/%20…%20andalcohol

I welcome feedback from readers. What is your thoughts on this use of dogs?Sniffer dog checks bite into our civil liberties. Replies can be made either here via the bloggers comment box below, or the at the popular NZ website 'doglinks' forums link (requires registration... good if you have a dog)

http://www.doglinks.co.nz/myforums/viewtopic.php?pid=376#p376

Reforming liquor laws to combat crime (Cant Issues)

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The issues surrounding liquor and violence in Canterbury can be roundly brought into the local perspective where we have seen Police District Commander (and relevant officers in charge of the inner city and alcohol laws) participate in the NATIONAL Party (MP Nicky Wagner) city crime/violence meeting at the Limes Room (Town Hall) followed recently by his participation at the LABOUR (MP wannabe Brendan Burns) meeting on Alcohol Policy. Mayor Parker participated as well but seemingly continues to be offended (I wont meet with you while you say nasty things about me) by the writers call  'that inner city property developer David Henderson, whose developments are characterised by a Bar on every corner was his primary, some say sole, election funder'.

Why should the District Commander meet and discuss 'drug policy' ? (a) because he said he would listen to the community. (b) the implementation of zero tolerance intersects with drug policy (c) there is a national debate and a bill before the house (d) there is an international debate and ten year UN review (e) and the NZ LAW COMMISSION is examining drug laws and the respective UN international conventions.Why is he not willing or prepared to do so? 

A birdy tells me the excuse is 'it's to close to the election'.

Retiring Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett said several years ago that "the centre of NZ's drug reform is in Canterbury". It is sincerely hoped that our District Commander gives some respect and equity to this issue and accepts public delegations as he has committed to do.  He may recall a comment heard at both of the recent political huis - Our NATIONAL DRUG POLICY formulation documents highly recommended a holistic approach such that failure to address this in a 'communitarian all drug' context was just continuing pithing into the wind.

The Canterbury POLICE are participants in and signatories to "HEALTHY CHRISTCHURCH" and its principles embodied word for word in the Ottawa Charter.

Or is he (and his ilk) addicted to the 'drug war' funding?

Somewhat ironically, MP and Minister of Commerce Lianne Dalziel was at the last 'its acohol' meeting, and she is a 'cost benefits' kinda gal. It may yet be Canterbury at the centre of the drug policy maelstrom! Those who think otherwise may regale but we have here the best research 'evidence based' engine and data in the Otago School of Medicine's longitudinal and multidisciplinary studies.

We are an educated lot, its in our nature and heritage, and Police have a precedent in having had this discussion some ten years ago with both then Acting District Commanders Dave Haslett and Paul Fitzharris. It was generally agreed that were a enlightened social directive to treat cannabis either as a 'lowest possible priority' or by 'means other than arrest' it should logically apply consistently to the whole South Island. But that was before HEALTHY CHRISTCHURCH. 

Canterbury is the global home to the Needle Exchange (NEPS) and by dint of its uptake of Party Pills' the Anderton GoodFriday2004 "Class D" legislative model for controlled drugs. We are as it were "at the cutting edge of reform' - like it or not.