Budget cuts affecting sexual assault investigations

The ability of our Police force to properly investigate sexual assaults has been undermined by National’s budget cuts says Labour’s spokesperson for Police Kris Faafoi.

“A report by the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has found that training for officers investigating sexual assaults has been hampered by ‘a reduction in the number of courses because of reduced funding’.[1]

“This is a serious category of crime and it’s not good enough that our investigative capacity is being jeopardised by the Government’s cuts,” Kris Faafoi said.

“The OAG report says a greater priority should have been given to this training given the serious nature of adult sexual crimes.[2]

“Given the resolution rates for these crimes has been steadily dropping over the last three years, it is disappointing that National’s rhetoric does not meet the reality on law and order.

“Police Minister, Anne Tolley’s Budget cuts are causing long-term damage to our policy capacity,” Kris Faafoi said.

[1] Controller and Auditor-General, Performance Audit Report, Response of the New Zealand Police to the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct: Third Monitoring Report, October 2012, p 24.

[2] Controller and Auditor-General, Performance Audit Report, Response of the New Zealand Police to the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct: Third Monitoring Report, October 2012, p 25.