Police call for staff

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 8

Police call for staff

PA Wellington The Police Association will renew its nationwide campaign calling for more frontline police, but this time it will take a softer approach.

The association ran a hard-hitting campaign just before the 1987 elections for 1000 extra police. It featured full-page advertisements which showed a cricket bat, helmet and Alsatian dog under the heading, “Things you will need if the Government doesn’t increase police numbers.”

“In 1987 the association launched a blunt cam-

paign which, on reflection, was perhaps a little too direct,” the association’s newsletter says. “In contrast the approach this time will be measured, less confrontational.”

It would be aimed at enlisting the support of the public and politicians by making them understand the work of the police and how it would be improved by increasing staff numbers.

Association members would be asked to alert people to staffing problems in their areas and to try to foster debate on the issue.

A "professional communications company” would be employed to develop written material, which would be sent to

community groups and politicians, and to co-ordi-nate the campaign.

The association said staffing shortages affected members’ professional pride because they could not offer the type of service their training and professionalism demanded. The association accepted that a police officer on every corner would not eliminate crime.