Police must buy own ‘woollies’

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 13

Police must buy own ‘woollies’

PA Wellington The police must pay for special cold weather clothing, the Commissioner of Police, Mr K. 0. Thompson, has decided. The Police Association last year took up the cause of Taupo police who had

been declined inclusion on a list of cold area stations. Special clothing is issued to those stations where 40 per cent of the official winter months have an average daily minimum temperature of zero degrees or less. “However, regardless of the merits or otherwise of the claims from stations such as Balclutha and Taupo, any downgrading of the criteria to incorporate them would bring in 32 other stations and involve an initial cost of $200,000 and an annual outlay of $60,000,” Mr Thompson said. “We cannot afford to supply special winter clothing to all stations that experience cold weather. We can only do so to the coldest areas,” he said. Long underwear, heavy socks, and other clothing had been bought by staff as tax deductible items before. The department had no objection to this practice continuing as long as the items conformed with the standard uniform. Special clothing is also issued to those stations in “snow areas” where snow lies continuously for the greater part of the winter.