Chch police staff to be trimmed

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 6

Chch police staff to be trimmed

Police and civilian staff in the Christchurch police district will be reduced because of Government spending cuts.

“There will be some small reductions,” said the head of the Christchurch police district, Deputy* Assistant Commissioner G. E.'.Twentyman, yesterday. ■ National Police: Headquarters in Wellington would decide what' cuts would be made to sworn staff. • * Besides the staff cuts, some building maintenance will also be deferred;

Mr Twentyman said that the district’s 69 civilian staff would be reduced by five before March 31. This would be done by not replacing those who left, rather than making staff redundant. He was not sure what cuts would be’ made to sworn staff, but-said that it would not be a “significant number.” . j At normal strength' the district has 564 policemen, but it is common for the force to be 10 or 15 below strength. This is because of delays in finding replacements for staff who have retired or transferred.

Among the building plans to be deferred were the stage two development of the Central Police Station and several other capital works.

These included a covered parking area at the station, new radio and mechanical workshops, and storerooms. However, the new control room being built on the eighth floor would not be affected, said Mr Twentyman.

Complex communication and computer equipment was being installed there, and z it was hoped to have it finished by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Labour spokesman on the police, Mr M. A. Connelly, has criticised Government cuts in police spending. “At a time when reported crime- and violent offences are running at all-time record levels, the Government should be making more funds available to the Commissioner of Police to enable police manpower, transport, communications, and services to be increased,” he said. ' ■'! - '■ •

“Instead, in • this year’s Budget, it has actually cut the police manpower staff' ceiling by more than 70.”