11 October 2007

Police Cost Cutting Fails To Measure Up

New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark says Police desire to cut costs by cutting corners has resulted in an extra cost of $2.7 million and 1,700 stab resistant vests going to waste following their decision to measure for the vests themselves.

Mr Mark wrote to the Auditor General in August seeking an inquiry into the Police’s stab resistant body armour shambles. The Audit Office review has since concluded that Police should not have measured the vests themselves.

“Correct measurement of officers for the stab resistant body armour was fundamental to the delivery of the services under the contract and Police should have taken more care to consider the risks involved with taking on the task themselves,” said Mr Mark.

“While the contracted body armour supplier Aegis promised 99% accuracy in measurements, Police decided the costs were too expensive and took it upon themselves to carry out the measurements, thus incurring the costs of any incorrectly measured vests.

“One has to wonder why Police chose to take this risk when they were dealing with such an important piece of safety equipment for their officers and when the project had already run over budget.

“It is very clear that Police failed abysmally to fully consider contract details, quality control issues and risks associated with the project,” concluded Mr Mark.

ENDS

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