'Time to wake up’

Press, 3 February 1982, Page 7

'Time to wake up’

It is time for the public to wake up and take notice of what is going on around them, according to the Shadow Minister of Police and member of Parliament for Yaldhurst, Mr M. A. Connelly. The increase in violent crimes was an indictment of the Government, because of the failure of its economic and social policies and also its failure to provide “adequate front-line and community police," Mr Connelly said. “Major contributing factors are the large-scale unemployment, violence, and

anti-social conduct on television, pornography, bad housing and overcrowding, and inadequate suitable recreation and leisure facilities especially for children and young people. Ail this is within the capacity of the Government to change,” said Mr Conpelly. Mr Connelly referred to the “indoctrinating potential” of television and to the opportunities it presented as an economic enterprise capable of earning foreign exchange if harnessed in the right way. “Its employment, foreign exchange earning, social and law and order benefits

should commend this to the Government and to access to necessary capital and other assistance,” Mr Connelly said. An obvious police presence in communities, on the beat, and front line would protect and deter in a law and order situation, according to Mr Connelly. There should be a significant increase in the number of community police and they should be promoting their role to the public. “Government has a major responsibility on which it should act without further delay,” Mr Connelly said.