Chris Cahill: Police Association President on tougher penalties for boy racers

Tougher penalties hope to put the brakes on boy racers and fleeing drivers.

The Government's establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction for street racers, those who flee police, and intimidating convoys. 

Police will also get greater powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas. 

Police Association President Chris Cahill says told Ryan Bridge something needs to be done because the situation is out of control.

He says these aren't just boy racers, they are deliberately antagonising Police, throwing bottles and ramming cars.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So Mark Mitchell's promising to basically out crush the Crusher
on boy races. If you're caught racing once and convicted,
your car can be crushed or sold rather than the
current three strikes law. Police Association president Chris car Hit
with me this morning. Chris, good morning, Good morning, Ryan,
lots to talk to you about this morning. So the
first of all, Crusher actually only crushed three cars. How
many do you think police might get with these new powers.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, the one conviction rather than having to have three
convictions under the current law should make a difference. Look,
we've got to do something. These things are out of
control them. They're not just anti social boy racing. These
things have got to the point where the deliberately antagonizing
police when they turn up, they're getting bottled, they're getting
their cars rammed, and the public has had a goutsful

(00:44):
of it when it's in their neighborhood. So I think
it's where the try.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
The firearms registry. So actors are basically doing agree to
disagree over this review. This talk of only saving two
lives a year if we have a firearms registry. Does
that sound worth the expense? I mean, is that what
is that what you are hearing.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Well, it's a ridiculous measure. She asked for this review,
and she doesn't like the results, and now she doesn't
want to listen to it. I mean, two lives. To me,
two lives is worth it. But that was one incident.
She forgets that actually the third life was the offender
who took his own life. What about the two police
officers that were shot at that incident, one suffering life

(01:24):
change and injuries. These are just one incident. I can
give you dozens where that actually take in firearms off
the street because they've been identified through the REGIS chairs
being supplied by licensed firearms owners to criminals. She's just
upset that the results have actually been outstanding. And why
would you do a review after one year when it's

(01:44):
a five year limitation before this is up and running.
It's just crazy that she doesn't like what she's hearing
so she wants to stop it.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah, it does sound a bit odd to be having
a review, a review of a review which you initiated
to Hey, the five hundred extra cops year basically a
few from what I can gather a few months later
than promised. We did actually know this a little while ago,
but big deal or do you think they are genuinely
trying here?

Speaker 2 (02:10):
I like they're definitely trying. They're trying really hard. Look,
we always said it's an arbitrary date that you give.
It's going to be tough. But I think what you
have to look as longer term is this actually going
to be a bigger problem. We know that a struggling
to recruit, but we're also seeing attrition rise. I think
you're going to see longer term some real concerns around

(02:32):
whether police can get enough staff. Auckland is south Is.
You know they've got like ten percent vacancies for constavorary
staff right across Auckland. It's start become a real pressure point.
It's a worldwide problem and I think we might be
seeing it manifest itself in New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Now, appreciate your time.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Chris.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Chris Carhill Police Association President, with me this morning.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Listen live to news Talks. It'd be from five am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
E