Tired policemen to be able to retire

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 6

Tired policemen to be able to retire

PA Wellington The Secretary of the Police Association, Dr Bob Moodie, expects the police to begin shedding old, tired, and uninterested staff from April next year as a result of the Labour Government’s commitment to early police retirement. Up to 500 police staff could be affected. Their replacement with younger, more active police should result in x a much more efficient police service, Dr ' Moodie , said. Early retirement permitting young policemen to leve the service with superannuation if they are fatigued and no longer able to

cope with front line police duties was the main recommendation of a study last year. The study was made in consultation with the National Government, which later approved the scheme in principle. The new Labour Minister of Consumer Affairs, Mrs Shields, told Police Association members earlier this month that Labour supported retirement at 55 for the police. Dr Moodie, a member of the committee which did last year’s study, said yesterday that he saw no problem in Labour implementing the study’s recommendation.

“I would think we would be in a position to start on April 1 next year,” he said. It was likely a considerable number of police would leave the service within the first year. Dr Moodie said the need to introduce the scheme was urgent. “There is a desperate need for personnel rejuvenation within the police. People are shell-shocked. It is not a natural state to live in confrontation and violence but that is what many police officers face every day.” Dr Moodie said he hoped to have talks with the Government about the scheme as soon as possible.