EVENTS

The Coalition Action on Public Safety (CAPS) is a new group formed to seek a broad, united leadership to facilitate permanent crime reduction. Their inaugural event will be the first New Zealand Crime Free Day to celebrate the first Anniversary of the Manukau Anti-crime march and to remember victims of violent crime on Sunday 5th July 2009, starting at 10 am. It is being held in Manukau City and a Peaceful Walk will follow a similar route to the July 5th 2008 anti-crime march.

Peter Low, Chairman of the Asian Anti-Crime Group, organiser of the first march on 5th July 2008, said: “More than 15,000 supporters, victims and families who had lost their loved ones marched under cold weather conditions in Botany Downs, demanding more action against crime. The turnout caught media attention in New Zealand and around the world, and has become one of our days in history to remember.”

Since then, the support has been tremendous, with broader ethnic communities and many other organisations joining. “This huge support has resulted in the formation of a broad-based coalition which will speak powerfully and with one voice to proclaim that all New Zealanders want a permanent and lasting solution to the crime problem.”

This coalition of many groups concerned with transparency, accountability and public safety has been formed out of growing concern that the New Zealand justice system is failing to deliver justice to the people it is meant to protect – that is, the citizens, residents, and visitors to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

“We are inviting all organisations working for the greater good to join – for example all ethnic organisations, regardless of whether or not you are currently supporting victims or helping police, government or local bodies to fight crime and keep people safe.”

“We are not just a pressure group or a victim’s advocacy group, and we wish to unite all stakeholders in criminal justice and public safety causes. Our purpose is to bring about fundamental change in our society and our attitudes to protect everyone, especially our children and grandchildren, from the misery and heartbreak that our unacceptable, accelerating crime rate is causing.”

United, we can stand up to the criminals and for the rights of victims, and together, we can keep the authorities accountable and our communities safer.

Further information is available on our website www.caps.org.nz or by emailing info@caps.org.nz, and a full list of Crime Free Day activities will be available shortly.