Police is "business like" rather than run as a business

The Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall, has rejected the claim by a retiring Northland Area Commander that Police is being run as a business.

"New Zealand Police is neither a Force nor a Business.   It is a service and a highly regarded one at that, being run in a business-like fashion.

"In these difficult economic times Police need to demonstrate good value for the $1.4 Billion of hard earned taxpayers money invested in the organisation.  Recent surveys show we are riding high in terms of public trust, confidence and satisfaction."

"Most Police recognise that NZ Police is one of very few public agencies that has not had a cut to its budget.   Our budget this year remains unchanged from that of last year," said Mr Marshall.

"As for resourcing, the Northland District has the second highest ratio of Police per population ratio in New Zealand, second only to Eastern district.

"Many good things are happening in Northland, just as they are throughout New Zealand.

"The District is getting good crime reduction results.   In the last published crime statistics crime had fallen by 10.5%.

"Whangarei has a Neighbourhood Policing team as part of the prevention first model, rostering to demand is in place and the current moves to establish a File Management Centre and extend the Crime Reporting Line into the district will maximise the numbers of officers on the street.

"Within a year Northland police officers will be recipients of smartphone and tablet computing technology which will enable frontline officers to be even more out and about in the community.

"From early on in my tenure I have moved to ensure that all frontline vehicles are equipped with tasers, glock pistols, bushmaster weapons and ballistic armour.   We're also rolling out personal safety alarms for officers in areas not covered by digital radio.

"Having said that, I wish to stress that policing is an innately dangerous and difficult job and that is a common factor of law enforcement work throughout the world.   New Zealand Police officers, through their dealing with uncertainty and volatile situations serve the people of this country extremely well.  In no way, shape or any form would I want any of my comments to be interpreted as watering down the difficulty of the role.

"Over the last year some 14 of the 43 Area Commanders had moved for a variety of reasons ranging from promotion, retirement, restructuring and deployment in other roles.

"Refreshment and rejuvenation in an organisation with extremely low attrition (running at 3% per annum) is no bad thing.  I have been impressed with the realism that nearly all my commanders have had in terms of whether or not they see themselves as having the energy, enthusiasm and skills to take the organisation forward in the challenging environment we are in," said the Commissioner.