Sponsorship for police defended

Press, 20 December 1986, Page 24

Sponsorship for police defended

PA Wellington The Government considered extending sponsorship of the police in response to three “spontaneous offers” to provide cars for community constables.

It did not specify, however, where the offers came from.

The Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus, said the idea of police sponsorship was not new and expressed concern about “illinformed” criticism of the sponsorship policy.

Mrs Hercus said there were only four areas where the police could and had accepted sponsorship, including the new area of “communityrelated vehicles,” and

these were subject to strict conditions. The other three areas where sponsorship was allowed were in community education material, educational crime prevention material and law education programmes in schools.

Mrs Hercus said sponsored vehicles would have “discreet” acknowledgement of sponsorship but these would have to be approved in each case. The Commissioner of Police would vet any proposals.

“Where is the evil if sponsorship means the difference between the local community constable or law-related education officer having his or her own car or not?” Mrs Hercus said. The Minister said she accepted that some of the concern expressed recently about sponsorship was a reflection of regard

for the reputation of the police.

But she said she and the commissioner had most at stake in protecting police integrity, and that was why sponsorship rules were so strict.

“Can anyone find, after years of commercial sponsorship of policerelated activity, any example where police integrity has been damaged? The answer is no,” Mrs Hercus said.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson, said yesterday that response to the decision to extend the sponsorship policy was “frankly nonsense.”

“And it is also nonsense to suggest police impartiality and morality can be compromised by the decision,” Mr Thompson said.

“All we are talking about is the prospect of some reputable sponsors providing their own community constable or lawrelated education officer with a car which will be of direct and lasting benefit to that community.” Mr Thompson said he had pushed community policing concepts hard and had prevailed upon people with influence to use their resources to help stem the crime tide while in office.

“As a result we have had substantial assistance from the business community.” Mr Thompson said the Police Association’s response to the project “appalled” him. “If their negative attitude alienates public opinion then their own members suffer.

“Past sponsorship has in no way compromised police services. “Indeed, it is an’ insult to suggest to police officers throughout New Zealand that the policy is sufficient to compromise them.

“The public need not have the slighest fear of graft or compromise. “We have demonstrated our inviolability for more than 100 years and this minor extension to our sponsorship policy will not change it,” Mr Thompson, said.