Media Release

For Immediate Release
19 October 2005

MORE POLICE WELCOMED WITH EXPECTATION ALL WILL BE SWORN POLICE DESTINED FOR FRONTLINE

"The Police Association congratulates the efforts of NZ First and welcomes the new Government's commitment to provide another 1000 Police staff over the next 3 budget years, with the expectation that those promised will be sworn police officers destined for the frontline," NZ Police Association President, Mr O'Connor said today.

"The Association has for sometime been stressing the need for more frontline police and our members will be buoyed by the promise of additional Police and the pledge to achieve sworn police to population ratios comparable with that of Australia by 2010," said Mr O'Connor.

"The frontline needs a significant boost in police numbers to build and maintain public confidence and meet their understandably high expectations of service," said Mr O'Connor. "Despite increases in sworn police since 2001, between 2001 and 2005 the number of frontline response staff across New Zealand has increased by only 9 police officers."

Mr O'Connor said, "Last month the Association surveyed its members using UMR researchers and found that 96% of police officers believe frontline general duties branch is under resourced and 78% believe the CIB is under resourced. The focus must be on re-building our frontline and investigative capability to respond to and investigate offences, as these are the critical areas that directly affect our service to the public."

"The Police Association understands there is currently a difficulty recruiting Police, however we are confident that we can find the 1000 new Police. The best recruiters are existing police officers and if they feel well paid, well resourced and appreciated for the work they do, they will attract and recruit good people into Police," said Mr O'Connor.

"NSW Police, operating in a similar tight job market as New Zealand, has over 1000 people on their recruitment list waiting to join. New Zealand can get to the same situation if they look after the police they have now."

ENDS

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