The Wire

The NSW Government is notorious in Australia for is get tough on crime approach. And the latest statement from Premier, Morris Iemma suggests there is no backing away from that stance. He unveiled plans this week for the purchase of a water canon, costing $700,000 to be used in rioting situations, as well as a further increase in policing personnel numbers, estimated to cost an extra $80 million each year. But today a key group representing the welfare sector, the NSW Council of Social Services, says NSW should invest an equal amount of money into preventing crime. Professor Mark Findlay from Sydney Uni’s Centre for Criminology agrees. He and Garry Moor from NCOSS spoke to The Wire. Premier Morris Iemma’s office declined to comment.