Media Statement
For immediate release Thursday, 27 March, 2003

Dunne: Do Kiwis want spotty Glaswegian cops?

United Future leader Peter Dunne today slammed the combined effect of the lowered police recruiting age and a campaign for British police to come here, questioning whether the New Zealand public is being well served.

The move was all the more ironic amid Government claims in Parliament today in response to Mr Dunne's questioning, that police numbers and funding had never been higher.

"This begs the question as to why the need to recruit in Britain," he said.

"Just how does the Government think hardened criminals will react to new police recruits who are either too young to enter a bar, or do a fair impression of Billy Connolly?

"If the Government is looking to turn our police force into a bizarre version of Dad's Army, then it's heading in the right direction.

"And the situation is critical: how do you send raw recruits, barely able to shave, into tough frontline work, and keep faith with either the public or the police themselves?

"This kind of cadet scheme has been tried before and failed, and it is not the answer this time," he said.

Today in Parliament, Mr Dunne challenged the Government to seriously address the problem of experienced officers leaving the police force.

Ends.

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