What are police for?

The Herald reports that around 80 candidates (that's about 14 percent) have failed to file election expenses and may be referred to the police.

So where were the police during the election campaign when signs were constantly vandalised, trashed or stolen? It was a daily battle keeping the signs intact and upright. Mine were spray painted, knocked down and ran over; in one case sanitary pads were taped to them. In another, local workers striking in Petone "borrowed" them to write their messages on the back and hoisted them up lamposts.(They were very polite when I went and asked for them back. One even promised to vote for "Rodney's party" after I explained that a tax cut would put more in their pockets than a wage increase.) Overall we lost half of our stock worth hundreds of dollars.

Now, I confess that while I reported the thefts to the Electoral Officer I didn't report them to the Police. Hell, we couldn't get a cop when our car was broken into and the CD player stolen.

If there is one thing the police should be doing it is protecting people's lives and property. The idea that they would have the time or inclination to chase sloppy candidates while so many crimes go uninvestigated and unsolved is enraging.