Thorne says crime fight has serious shortcomings

Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne on Tuesday blasted the government’s approach to crime, accusing it of shifting the responsibility for crime-fighting on to the public.

During his budget response in Parliament on Tuesday, Thorne took direct aim at what he described as a deeply flawed and morally bankrupt crime strategy, further dismissing the government’s often repeated mantra, “If you see something, say something,” as an attempt to absolve itself of responsibility while placing the burden on ordinary citizens.

“How dare this government come to the people of this country and hand them the responsibility in a mantra that says, ‘If you see something, say something’?” Thorne charged.

“And so the government sheds itself of its responsibility to work with the police service to ensure that the safety of the citizens of this country is guaranteed.”

Thorne further painted the government as ineffective in its approach to crime, accusing it of passing “weak and toothless” legislation that fails to deter criminal activity.

He described the new Bail Act as making no meaningful improvements over the previous law, even suggesting that the administration had deliberately crafted a weak crime policy.

“I see a government that is passing weak and toothless anti-crime legislation, including the new Bail Act … . The government in this country is soft on crime. Why? Are there electoral implications?” he asked.

The opposition leader also warned of the increasing presence of so-called “garrison communities,” where criminal elements are said to exert control over neighborhoods to the point of making them resistant to police intervention.

“We see the emergence of garrison communities in this country—a dangerous emergence. Communities that have become impregnable against even police intervention.,” he said. (SM)