Police cuts to bite deeper?

Press, 4 September 1989, Page 3

Police cuts to bite deeper?

PA Wellington The number of police leaving the force could mean a bigger drop in police numbers than the 267 announced by the Commissioner of Police, Mr John Jamieson, the Police Association says.

Checks show the police were already well on the way to shedding 267 staff by June, 1990, when Mr Jamieson detailed the cuts last week. The department was more than 200 officers and civilian staff below its authorised strength. The association says about 350 police are leaving each year and if that trend continues, the force will lose about 300 staff through natural attrition by June. Staff loss is unlikely to be balanced by recruitment. This year, two recruitment wings at the Police College were closed, and future intakes have been postponed indefinitely. Even when recruitment resumes, it will be six months before more police are trained and ready. A Police Association researcher, Mr Greg Fleming, said even with new recruits, the police “would be scratching to keep up with the rate of attrition.” Pressure on remaining police was likely to increase the numbers leaving the force. Region 1 (Auckland and Northland) which was theoretically going to lose 80 staff, was already about 80 below

strength, an Auckland police spokesman said. The attrition rate in the region is running at 10 officers a month, so by June, 1990, the region could have lost another 90 staff. Even though the region had already reduced to its new staff level, many officers were going to have to change jobs as their positions were being cut. This was creating uncertainty. Region 4 (Wellington, Hutt, Kapi-Mana and Nelson) which bore the brunt of the cuts with 181 positions axed, was 66 staff below strength. The regional commander, Assistant Commissioner Ron Joyce, said that during the last year the region lost 100 staff through natural attrition. If that rate continued, it would take until the June deadline to reduce to new levels. Region 5 (Canterbury and the West Coast) was understaffed by 11 and Region 6 (Otago, Southland) was short of 123 staff. Regions 2 and 3 (central North Island) which are to have an increase in staff, were at strength when the cuts in other regions were announced.