Relief pledge to ‘badly under-manned police4

Press, 22 July 1981, Page 3

Relief pledge to ‘badly under-manned police 4

PA Wellington The Labour Party believed that the police were badly undermanned in the face of increasing pressure, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) in an address to the Police Association in Hamilton yesterday.

He said that information made available last year showed that accumulated leave and time off was now a staggering total of 120 man years and there were numerous times when police had to be moved round New Zealand to fill gaps in various centres.

“It is our intention to increase police numbers by moving into a three-yea’r programme of staffing," Mr Rowling said. This would meet present needs and allow for effective forward planning. Vacancies would be filled immediately.

“We have accepted the arguments of the Police Association on the personal stress that front-line officers, in particular, face throughout their careers," Mr Rowling said. “We will therefore move to reduce progressively the length of service to 35 years and negotiate special superannuation rights to allow for early retirement.

“An expansion of other areas of police work, for example in community services. will open up opportunities for longer-service police officers who want to remain active in their career but find the pressures of frontline duty too great."

He said that a Labour government would extend to the police the provision whcih allowed tenants to build up through rent payments. a notional equity for use as a deposit on a home.

“We intend to extend the home ownership savings investment scheme to include the Police Association investment scheme," he said. “There also seems to be a clear potential for some form of housing rehabilitation loan, in recognition of the special conditions of service that exist in the force.

"I am convinced that these moves, introduced by clear and known stages, can do a great deal to improve recruitment and retention levels. “Those extra numbers will not only, get even better results in the field, but will allow a more obvious community involvement to be developed."

The community constable system, established in the suburbs under the last Labour government, had been a success. Mr Rowling said. There was an urgent need for its further extension.

“Real success with a programme of this type largely depends on being able to match suitable officers with suitable premises. We have a committed target of one office a month over the next three financial years. In addition, a new section will be created within the police with a specific social and community role. "There is a crying need throughout the community for experienced, mature, and committed people to work with the young. That, after all. is where the prevention work that we all talk about is supposed to happen."

Labour had deliberately chosen to make the maintenance of law and order and. in particular, the strengthening of the community role of the police, one of its priorities. “Expenditure in this area will be near the top," Mr Rowling said. “The increasing trend to violence is not something that can be allowed to continue."

Referring to the Springbok tour, he said that in the days ahead ordinary New Zealand citizens would need all the reassurance they could get.

“Much of that must come from the way in which the policeman in the front line conducts his job." Mr Rowling said.

“You will not only need tactical strength and skills, you will also need patience, tolerance, and a sense of humour." he said.