Monday 11 June 2018

Mayor Phil Goff welcomes Auckland’s newest police recruits

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the arrival of 78 new police constables in the city today is welcome, and long overdue.

“Our city has been growing by 45,000 people a year and police numbers just haven’t kept up. I raised the issue when I was in Parliament. I raised it during the Mayoral election campaign and as Mayor. Finally, we have got a positive response,” Phil Goff said.

The new recruits made up the entirety of Wing 314 at Porirua’s Police College and graduated on 1 May.

“The role the Police play in prevention and detection of crime, and in public safety, is vital. When police numbers are down, much of the proactive work needed to keep us safe in the community and on the roads falls by the wayside,” Phil Goff said.

“The massive increase in deaths and serious injuries in road accidents, more than 700 over the last four years, has in part been put down to the fall in police enforcement and education.

“We look to Police to be there to help the public, and with police numbers not matching the huge growth in our population, they were too often stretched beyond their capacity to provide the assistance needed.

“I acknowledge the Government’s boost in numbers and funding and look forward to working with Minister Stuart Nash to provide the assistance Aucklanders want and need,” Phil Goff said.

ENDS

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