KEY POINTS:
The thin blue line got a bit broader in Auckland this week with the country's top cop filling in on the front line.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad was back on the beat, taking time to talk to his troops and the public while he wandered through the hub of Henderson. One of Mr Broad's plans is to increase community policing and part of his visit was to highlight this to Henderson and North Shore staff.
Practising what he preaches, on Thursday Mr Broad walked through Westfield Shopping Centre, stopping to chat to retailers and ask their views.
"I see this as a pretty critical part of the role, getting among the guys, letting them tell me the stories of what they're doing," he said.
"It's showing interest, it's a little bit of 'are you on the right track' on the sort of things I want to do in the police."
While he walked, he was updated on the progress of a new beat unit, a community policing-style group of five officers set up to target disorder problems by monitoring youths in the area.
Mr Broad said the beat unit had shown early signs of success.
And his staff weren't just putting on a show for the boss. During the walk, Sergeant Steve Waters was telling Mr Broad about the unit when he recognised several teens who should have been in school. He sharply sent them back towards their classrooms.
"You've got 10 minutes," Mr Waters warned one teen who was oblivious to the high-ranked officer he was busted beside.
Mr Broad said the visit was his fourth around the country since becoming commissioner 15 months ago. He was also visiting the 11 other police districts to address staff and discuss his strategic plan.
Part of the plan will see community policing staff boosted by 125 and an expansion of the Maori Wardens programme.
But he was also here to make sure staff were performing and commend them if they were doing so.
"If I'm not telling them they're doing a good job, no one is."
