"It was an honour to open the new building, and to acknowledge, in person, the police staff who contributed to the 10.8 per cent reduction in crime in the Western Bay of Plenty last year.
"Foot patrols almost doubled in the district last year, and with frontline officers now equipped with smartphones and tablets to input and access data while on the streets, they will be even more visible.
"It's estimated that the time saved by doing admin work online will mean Police in the Bay of Plenty can devote an extra 42,600 hours each year to crime prevention, or the equivalent of 28 additional staff.
"I wish police staff and their community partners a safe and successful future in their new surroundings."