Crime in New Zealand - Is it really on the rise?

Ask the average Kiwi on the street, and they’ll likely tell you that they don’t feel as safe as they once did.   Random crimes, ram raids, gang activity, and disorderly behaviour have dominated our headlines over the last 12 months, creating a sense that crime is out of control. In response, there has been scathing criticism from politicians who claim that the Government is too soft on crime.  But does that perception match reality? Is crime really out of control? And is our justice system too soft on perpetrators?      Greg Newbold (Emeritus Professor of Criminology from Canterbury University) has the unique perspective of having experienced the justice system first-hand as a prisoner, followed by decades of academic analysis. He joins Damien to discuss some of the causes behind the current crime wave, and how our concerns around it compare internationally.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoProducers: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.