14 October 2004

Speed Cameras Boost Police Boss Pay Packet

New Zealand First says the astronomical salary paid to Police Commissioner Rob Robinson reflects his huge value to the Government as a traffic tax gatherer with police speed cameras.

Mr Robinson had a pay rise of up to $70,000 in the past year, taking his total remuneration to between $410,000 and $419,000.

Police have collected close to $50 million from all speed camera fines in the past financial year.

Law and order spokesperson Ron Mark said that under Commissioner Robinson police had failed to close down all the gang P laboratories or reduce violent crime, but they had certainly made traffic tax collecting into an art form.

“Ordinary citizens might have to wait for burglaries to be investigated and there might be a P epidemic, but we know there is always a police officer with a speed camera lurking behind every bush on state highways and local roads.

“As a result of the police obsession with traffic tax gathering, their public relations profile is slipping all the time and they risk further alienating citizens.

“We suggest that there has been nothing in the police commissioner’s performance to reflect a need for this huge salary and the pay rise is obviously a bonus for the traffic tickets.

“The commissioner will soon be getting paid as much as TVNZ executives and front people,” said Mr Mark.

ENDS

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