Grim future for Police under National

Rumblings from the front-line confirm that the future for Police under National is grim, Labour’s Police spokesman Kris Faafoi said today.

“The mood at this week’s Police Association conference in Wellington is one of disappointment with Budget cuts severely impacting on front-line policing,” Kris Faafoi said.

“Association boss Greg O’Connor has reiterated that the financial pressure that Police Minister Anne Tolley has put our officers under will affect their ability to prevent and respond to crime.

“We can’t have another case of history repeating itself where short term cuts erode the public’s confidence in the police to respond.

“We know already that 125 back office jobs are being cut. Ms Tolley’s message to Police this week was a warning that more cuts could be on the agenda - a concern given the constraints already outlined by Greg O’Connor.

“Anne Tolley’s back to the future approach to policing smacks of a short-term decision which could have a long-term and grim effect for front-line policing,” Kris Faafoi said.