Police ‘desperate’ for staff boost

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 1

Police ‘desperate’ for staff boost

The police staff shortage was now desperate, said the secretary of the Police Association, Dr R. A. Moodie, in Christchurch yesterday. He said many officers had up to 60 days' leave owing even before' the Springbok tour started, let alone time off owed in lieu of overtime payment. “They must be rested. We are going into a Royal tour after this lot, and then a General Election. It is now a desperate situation." said Dr Moodie. Some policemen have worked 26 hours straight during the tour. Eighteen and 19-hour days were common, and hundreds of thousands of hours of overtime had been worked. However, Dr Moodie said

the association had not had one' complaint from policemen or their wives about the long hours or the job they were doing. “There is pride in the job of keeping the balance in a very difficult situation, and the public support has been a tremendous boost." he said. Dr Moodie has been attacked recently by the PrimeMinister (Mr Muldoon), and by the Minister of Police (Mr Couch) who said he did not deal with the Police Association. At a special general meeting at the Christchurch Central Police Station yesterday about 200 members of the Christchurch district branch of the association gave a unanimous vote of confidence in Dr Moodie on all issues, including his differences with the Government. “The Minister of Police made personal derogatory remarks about me, and there was a difference of opinion between the Prime Minister and myself over what has been termed the ‘red hit list',” said Dr Moodie. “I do not see either matter as serious or important but it is in the interests of the morale of the police service that these issues are straightened out," he said. Yesterday’s meeting had been concerned about Mr Couch’s statement that he did not deal with the Police Association, and members had asked Dr Moodie to ask for a meeting between the association's executive and the Prime Minister. More- staff and optional retirement at the age of 55

instead of 60 were the keyissues affecting police morale and efficiency, said Dr Moodie.

"There are some front-line police who find it too tough at the age of 45. They cannot cope, and" this puts more pressure on other front-line officers." he said. Some officers would not retire early because of financial commitments or other reasons, but there were those who could and would. The application for provision for early retirement had been filed in May this year, said Dr Moodie. The Cabinet was aware of it. but there had been no reaction. Dr Moodie said he would make a further report to the Commissioner of Police (Mr R. J. Walton) seeking a complete review of police staffing needs. The association believed that at least 500 more police were urgently needed. Police numbers now stood at 4900. Yesterday's meeting resolved that the Springbok tour “temporary constaables” under the age of 60, and who had performed satisfactorily, be allowed to rejoin the police, and be given priority over other applicants. About 40 or 50 former policemen were involved. Several, including former senior non-commissioned officers, had expressed interest in rejoining the police. Further tour reports, Page 3.