Only 12% of new police going to 'front line'

Police Minister Annette King should tell the public the real story behind the size of increase in police on the front line, says National Party Police spokesman, Chester Borrows.

"She's been crowing for ages about how she's boosting the number of 'frontline' police – in her own words, 'responders, general duties' staff – by 1,000.

"But it's time she admitted what is really happening, in light of what frontline police themselves said this week in response to the 2007 crime statistics:

'Despite the Government's '1000 new frontline police' promise, the reality is that in most areas real 'frontline' numbers – general duties shift staff and other primary response police units – have barely moved. Primary response units are the police officers that deal with violent crime and disorder. They are the police whose presence quells disorder and deters serious offending. It is no coincidence that violence and disorder offences are continuing to rise while frontline response staff numbers remain tight.'

"When the Police Association President Greg O'Connor shows such concern, we know there's a severe credibility problem for the Government.

"And the figures seem to back that up.

"The Police response to select committee questions, and answers to written parliamentary questions, suggest that only a small proportion of the additional police is being posted to the front line."

An answer to a written parliamentary question shows that only 45 (12%) of the 387 new 'frontline' police in the second tranche were to be 'responders, general duties'. The police response to select committee questions shows 65 staff (20%) were to be posted to headquarters and service centres.

"The remainder were to go into youth and family, analysts, recruitment, support services, and investigation support – all worth areas of police work but, by the Minister's own definition, they are not frontline police.

"The reality is that, despite what Labour has been saying, very few police have been added to the front line.

"National pointed out last year that only 32% of the first tranche went to the front line, and now it's dropped to only 12% for the second tranche.

"That's worrying, especially when this week's statistics show violent crime has risen 12% since 2006 and 43% since Labour became the Government.

"It's time Annette King told the public and the police the real story on frontline numbers."

Below: Police Association press release, answers to parliamentary questions

NZ Police Association Media Release
Tuesday 1 April 2008
CRIME STATS SHOW GREATER POLICE PRESENCE NEEDED
The official crime statistics release for the 2007 calendar year shows violence continues to rise, and an increased police frontline response is needed, Police Association President Greg O'Connor said today.

"Once again, we have seen big increases in both grievous and serious assaults. Street disorder, intimidation and group assemblies, and other alcohol-fuelled offences are up again. This is now a well-established trend that continues to go un-checked. An increased street-level police presence is the best and only way to get on top of it," Greg O'Connor said.

"Despite the Government's '1000 new frontline police' promise, the reality is that in most areas real 'frontline' numbers – general duties shift staff and other primary response police units – have barely moved," Greg O'Connor said.

"Primary response units are the police officers that deal with violent crime and disorder. They are the police whose presence quells disorder and deters serious offending. It is no coincidence that violence and disorder offences are continuing to rise while frontline response staff numbers remain tight.

"There is a lot of good work being done by police round the country, and excellent results being achieved in most areas. But when it comes to new staffing and resource decisions, violence is clearly our biggest problem; so primary response policing should be our biggest priority. Otherwise, especially given the spate of serious violence in January, the official 2008 statistics will simply record New Zealand's further slide into violence and disorder," Greg O'Connor said.