The State Victorian and looming Federal Budgets have the potential to lead to a spike in crime rates, says Charlie

CHARLIE BEZZINA
MAY 07, 2014
HERALD SUN
A TIGHT government Budget — whether delivered at Federal or State level — can bring with it the prospect of an increase in crime rates.
It is common sense to think that as pressure increases on individuals and family types to make ends meet, some might crack under the strain and act completely out of character.
In regards to the State Budget, to have an inflated figure of $34.9 million to be spent to combat the ice epidemic is laughable.
The first figure looks good but it equates to about $8.7 million a year.
Commercial illicit drug traffickers must suffer the full force of the law by receiving maximum jail sentences.
It’s great to see money going towards prison beds and prison officers…but isn’t the real issue making jail a deterrent?
I can’t recall Pentridge Prison being overcrowded, because it was a place to be feared.
The injection of $33 million to build new police stations, with 13 million to equip members with 580 Taser guns is great – but we still need more police on the streets.
And better IT systems.
What we need is a significant increase in police numbers followed by appropriate housing and resourcing.
To ask an obvious question – why can’t a percentage of the revenue police generate by way of fines and confiscation of profits from organised crime gangs be ploughed back into Victoria Police on top of their allocated budget?
Meantime, it would appear that our Federal Treasurer, Joe Hockey, is gearing us for some stringent economic times ahead when he delivers the 2014-2015 Budget Tuesday night.
Think welfare and assistance cut backs, questionable future job prospects, higher taxes and so on.
It can be a terrifying prospect for some, not knowing what the future may hold.
I think a lot of us would agree that because of the mismanagement of previous governments, society is left to bear the penalty: to pay the price despite tightened purse strings.
While there are genuine welfare cases out there, what compounds the problem is a high proportion of people who abuse the system and accept the dole — basically being paid not to work.
Leaner economic times encourage higher crime rates.
I see it as a natural progression following a loss of monetary support in general terms.
It may be such that those without a criminal propensity might see no other way and, for example, commit petrol drive-offs, shoplift or try their hand at robbery.
The government of the day will, as always, rely on police to tackle the problem if, and when, it rears its ugly head post Budget day.
theinvestigator@news.com.au