More policemen called for

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 16

More policemen called for

PA Wellington The police need another 400 to 600 personnel and at least 200 of them working on preventive duties if rioting oi the type seen in Britain last year is to be avoided in New Zealand, according to the Police Association’s secretary, Dr R. A. Moodie. He said that the recent report on the Brixton riots had noted that a lack of liaison between the police and youth groups had been a central cause of the conflicts. He said, “As I see it, New Zealand is no different from Britain as far as a potential for this sort of thing is concerned. I think some of the violence between police and demonstrators during the Springbok tour was attributable to the same factors

which caused the riots in Britain." Dr Moodie said it was obvious that police “cops and robbers” work in law enforcement was insufficient to reduce tensions in society. “There is need for a high level of community liaison and youth work and for police attitudes in particular to reflect on understanding of the problems of young people and cultural and racial tensions,” he said. The police needed to see themselves playing a part in defusing those tensions. “We need to inject hundreds of officers into work as community constables, community liaison, youth, and school-work areas.” The police were already under pressure and were short of manpower for lawenforcement.