Senior staff reject motions against two police chiefs

Press, 30 July 1982, Page 3

Senior staff reject motions against two police chiefs

PA Wellington Two Police Association motions — one of no confidence in the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr K. O. Thompson, and another censuring Mr Thompson and the Commissioner of Police. Mr R. J. Walton — were unanimously rejected by a conference of district and divisional police commanders and executives at Police National Headquarters on Wednesday. The Police Association’s management committee last week passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Thompson for his handling of a dispute over night allowances for staff at the central North Island police station of Turangi. The same meeting censured both Mr Walton and Mr Thompson over their involvement in cuts to the police budget, especially the announced closing of several one-man police stations. Mr Walton told a press conference later that in his opinion there were no grounds for a motion of no confidence in Mr Thompson, and he questioned why a domestic issue had been brought into . the public arena.

Mr Walton said the criticism of Mr Thompson over a matter regarding policing requirements in Turangi was not justified. “I run this job, I make the policy” said Mr Walton, “and this was a matter of policy. — Mr Thompson is one of

my advisers but on this matter he was not involved to the degree where it required a review of policy. Indeed, I changed the policy, but that is my prerogative, not Mr Thompson's." Mr Walton said he was disappointed that the association had passed the motion without discussing it with him first. “I did not think that it was a matter that should have been aired in public.” he said. Mr Walton said he considered Mr Thompson an able police officer and had every confidence in his ability. The national secretary of the Police Association, Dr R. A. Moodie, attended the conference. Mr Walton said Dr Moodie had assured the conference that there was no ulterior motive for labelling Mr Thompson as the person responsible for dissatisfaction over the Turangi decision. Matters concerning savings to be made by the department were also discussed at the conference. Mr Walton said. “We must now police to the extent that the economy permits,” he said. Most of the problems were in the urban areas, he said, and he was most concerned that no policing strength be lost in those areas. It was difficult to maintain modern policing with oneman stations, Mr Walton said. The most effective form of policing was working from

a base area where the police could work in strength with all the support that was necessary. “We cannot close a police station where we cannot provide an adequate service.” Mr Walton said. He was aware that by closing some of the small stations there was some loss of touch with the public, but he said community constables would be established as resources allowed. “The community constable is a liaison officer’to give the public information and receive information." Mr Walton said he was required to give all areas of New Zealand seven days a week, 24 hours a day coverage and police resources had to be allocated in the best interests of the whole country.

The matter of the station closings had not been handled the way he would have liked. “I did not want a decision to be made by the Government. I wanted to carry out the normal closing procedure which is a decision in principle to look at the station for closing, to have discussion with interested parties, then make a decision. “But this exercise got tied up in the saving and a decision was made by the Government.” The number of stations to be closed had dropped from 19 to nine, and so there was still room for further discussion on the matter. Mr Walton said.