Coast police jobs in for a light trim

Press, 29 August 1989, Page 3

Coast police jobs in for a light trim

By

PAT TAYLOR

in Greymouth Three police positions will be lost in the West Coast police district, the acting district commander, Inspector Pat Kavan- - agh, announced in Greymouth yesterday. Two of the positions are now vacant and will not be filled. The third job will be lost when a constable transfers from Greymouth and is not replaced. Mr Kavanagh said that the West Coast had been fortunate to "escape with a very small proportion of the cuts.” The Commissioner, no doubt, has taken into account the geographic and demographic isolation of the West Coast and the associated difficulties in providing an acceptable policing coverage. “Indeed he has been generous in not imposing greater reductions in the district.” . The cuts in staffing are one senior-sergeant and one constable from Greymouth and one constable from Westport. No cuts will be made in Hokitika, Reefton or at any rural stations. Mr Kavanagh said Senior-Sergeant Neil Smith, who recently retired, would not be replaced. “It is felt that Greymouth can be administratively handled by the one senior-sergeant, a position now held by SeniorSergeant Brock Price. It is preferable that an administrative position should go rather than an additional frontline position. “The constable reduc-

tion is to be achieved by reducing one of the shifts by one person. This will result in the non-replace-ment of the next transfer from the district. There will be no enforced transfer of staff. “This reduction can be achieved without affecting the coverage in Greymouth. A full 24-hour coverage of sufficient police strength will be maintained/’ Mr Kavanagh said that the situation for Westport was different. The reduction by one constable would mean that the present 24-hour coverage could not be maintained, and it was planned to introduce a call-out system to replace the night shift. This system had been used for several years in Hokitika and was very successful, he said. “Instead of being rostered to work throughout the night, staff will be available for call-outs when the occasion demands. Residents of Westport requiring assistance of the police in the small hours need only dial 111. “The call will be received at the Greymouth station and appropriate action will be activated from there, including the call-out of Westport staff when necessary.” Finer details would be discussed with Westport’s new sergeant when he arrived later this week. The effect of the change will mean an additional constable will be released for day duties. A greater police presence in the streets of

Westport could therefore be expected. Mr Kavanagh said this could mean the appointment of a community policeman for the businessman area. No more staff will be lost in Westport. A constable who transferred out in July would not be replaced. “The West Coast is well served by its police, and its people should take comfort from the performance reflected in the annual crime statistics announced by the Commissioner only last Friday,” said Mr Kavanagh, who is acting commander during the absence on leave of Chief Inspector Graham Clewer.

“The West Coast district with 5051 reported offences for the June, 1989, year had a 9.7 per cent drop in reported offences compared with the same period last year. This represented the biggest drop in crime of any of the districts throughout the country.

“Hand in hand with this was the news that the district also had the highest clearance rate in New Zealand with 59 per cent. This was 14.4 per cent above the national average.”

These figures not only reflect an effective and efficient police staff on the West Coast, but also the assistance and cooperation of its people towards its police and the basic honesty and lawabiding habits of West Coast people,” said Mr Kavanagh.