Thursday, 3 March 2005

Alexander finds source of 111 debacle

United Future law and order spokesman, Marc Alexander, says it’s becoming clear why the 111 emergency phone system has become such a disaster and is no longer trusted by the New Zealand public.

“It’s because the police have no idea who’s manning the phones,” he says.

Mr Alexander has just received a response to his written Parliamentary question to Police Minister, George Hawkins, which asked: How many staff, for each year over the last ten years, have been hired to work in police communications centres after being referred directly by the Department of Work and Income, specified by each communication centre?

“Mr Hawkins’ answer is brief and astonishing. It reads: I am advised that Police do not capture information regarding the source of recruitment of non-sworn staff. It is therefore not possible to answer this question.”

Mr Alexander commented “So it’s now clear that the police have no idea who is answering the public’s emergency calls or what kind of work they were doing before being referred by Work and Income.

“No wonder they don’t know the difference between a police car or a taxi and it’s no wonder they don’t know where to send any emergency response.”

ENDS

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