THE Patriotic Front (PF) says the UNC government is taking the same approach its PNM predecessor did to fighting crime, by declaring a state of emergency (SoE).

In a statement a day after the SoE was announced, the PF said, "This is the second SoE in less than a year. The PNM declared one last December. Now the UNC follows suit, citing a co-ordinated threat involving organised criminal networks operating from within correctional facilities."

The PF added, "Copying failed PNM measures will never work. Emergency powers are not a crime plan. They are not a strategy."