I am also grateful to Labour's allies in Government, and to the Minister of Finance for being so supportive. I will outline what processes are in place to ensure Napier's police numbers and presence in our community increases to the levels that I have demanded for so long.
A central priority for both Labour and New Zealand First in our coalition deal was the agreement to work hard over three years to seek to recruit, train and place 1800 more police into our communities. Both parties campaigned vigorously on the need for enhanced policing and crime prevention. We have a particular emphasis on community police and organised crime squads, whose primary task is to go after the gangs.
I am working closely with the Commissioner of Police and his senior officers and advisers about how to implement this ambitious plan. Since 2009 the number of sworn officers has barely moved. The ratio of police officers to the population has worsened, and is currently around 1 to 541 people, compared to the 1 to 501 ratio in 2009. During this time crime associated with methamphetamine has increased significantly; gangs have become more sophisticated in their operations; the number of reported family violence and mental health call outs has exploded and burglary numbers have gone through the roof.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the job is also becoming harder. In this year's internal police workplace survey, nearly 60% of officers reported experiencing an unacceptable level of workplace stress and a similar number felt they were not meeting the promises they made to the public. In light of all this, it seems incredible that in April 2016 the former Minister of Police agreed to a four year strategic plan that forecast no increase to police numbers till at least 2020.
Enter Labour and New Zealand First. We are committed to driving the greatest increase in Police numbers in over a century.
It is an incredibly ambitious plan, and will take three years to roll out. Starting in the next financial year, we will strive to recruit and train around 1000 new officers a year in order to replace those who leave – around 450 a year – and to meet our increased target. I believe this is achievable.
The Police Training College in Porirua is expanding to meet the increased number of recruits. Once implemented, the ratio of police-to-population will drop to around 1:470, and we will work to maintain this ratio going forward.
The Police Commissioner and his team have the final say on where the new officers will be posted – as they must in our transparent democracy. But I have been very clear that this Government's priority is around boosting numbers in community policing and the organised crime squads. The visible presence of police in our neighbourhoods, be they large or small communities, is a compelling priority.
The reason for this is that I am a huge believer in the police operating model of 'Prevention First'. This involves police working proactively in our communities to prevent crime.
A number of pilot programmes around the country show that when government agencies co-ordinate to deal with both the causes of crime and those who are on a fast track to jail it makes a significant difference – for both public safety and the trajectory a young person's life can take.
It is expensive and resource intensive, but not nearly as much as the $100,000 it costs to keep a person in jail for a year. But most importantly, it works.
So while the increase in police numbers and resources will not magically happen overnight, the next time the letter writers and others want to hold me to account – maybe in 2020 – police resources in Napier will be better than those we have inherited.
Policing in Napier must meet the expectations of our communities.
This will happen because both Labour and New Zealand First listened and responded accordingly.
That is why the feedback from every street corner meeting – and letter to the editor – is worthwhile.
Stuart Nash is Police Minister and MP for Napier. All opinions are the writer's and not those of Hawke's Bay Today.
