Moodie call for police inquiry now dropped

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 22

Moodie call for police inquiry now dropped

PA Wellington The Police Association has decided to drop its call for a committee of inquiry to investigate police policies and management. The association’s secretary, Dr Bob Moodie, has agreed not to press for the inquiry after discussions with the president of the Police Officers’ Guild, Chief Superintendent Jim Glynn. Mr Glynn had also spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson. Dr Moodie said last week that many police lacked confidence in the administration’s ability to manage and to plan. He said members felt the police service lacked direction. Mr Glynn said the debate between Mr Thompson and Dr Moodie could not be resolved by heated exposure in public. At the end of the day police morale was the victim, he said.

Mr Glynn said that for the most part, the conflict related to staffing. “The Commissioner is under considerable internal and external pressure to provide what is virtually the impossible — that is, law and order at a time when respect for and compliance with the law are becoming less fashionable, with the result that thinly spread police staff are having great difficulty in coping.” Mr Glynn said the guild did not want an inquiry. “Renewal and reform from within, and brought about in an atmosphere of mutual trust and consultation, are more effective than improvements imposed from outside,” he said. Mr Glynn said he hoped that guild and association officers could meet Mr Thompson to discuss issues which required action.