Talks explore police, M.O.T. merger costs

Press, 8 June 1989, Page 48

Talks explore police, M.O.T. merger costs

PA Wellington The Minister of Transport is working with the police to see what would be the cost of amalgamating the two forces. The Commissioner of Police, Mr John Jamieson, said he met Transport Secretar,, Mrs Margaret Bazley, last week and discussed the issue.

This prompted a flurry of rumours among police and traffic officers that amalgamation was on the agenda again. But the Minister of Transport and Acting Minister of Police, Mr Jeffries, said the Government’s policy was not to amalgamate the two forces and it had no plans to do so.

“It’s in the country’s interest they remain as separate specialist units,” Mr Jeffries said. He said no cost or operative efficiencies could be shown by amalgamating, and he ex-

pected this to be borne out by the study. The Opposition Leader, Mr Bolger, advocated amalgamation in February, but it is speculation over expected cuts in this year’s police budget that has fuelled the latest rumours.

Like those of other Government departments, the police budget of $484.9 million has not been increased to compensate either for the intended increase in G.S.T. or the effect of inflation. This has created an estimated shortfall for the coming year of $23 million.

The May recruit intake has been deferred by administrators unsure of what next year’s personnel budget will be. A decision on whether the June intake will also be deferred is expected soon.

Mr Jamieson has been working on the issue since late March.