KEY POINTS:
In 1992 the Government of the day - National as I recall - decided to amalgamate the then usually respected police with the much resented Ministry of Transport officers - more commonly known to the public as "traffic cops". The proposal was not popular. The Police Association - and others - voiced concerns about having "policemen" among their ranks who in many cases had joined the MOT because they failed to qualify for entrance to the Police College.
Many predicted a loss of public confidence in, and respect for, the police force who, from the time of the merger, would be required to give out speeding tickets in ever increasing numbers as "performance targets" - known to the rest of us as quotas - increased. Fifteen years later, the dire predictions have proved sadly on target.
I live in a village about 30km from Auckland. It is in many respects old New Zealand - the local garage will lend you a tow rope without a bond, and if you are 50c short at the dairy you can pay tomorrow.
Old New Zealand - sadly including the traffic police regularly to be found hiding behind trees at an intersection on the outskirts of the village. Only today, rather than being dressed in jodhpurs, thigh boots and mirror sunglasses, they are members of the once-respected police force.
They were there yesterday - all six of them, in two cars - in their favourite spot, about 60m from the point where the 50km/h area ends and the open road begins. This is a great spot for revenue gathering - and there is no question that is what they were doing. If they were there in the interests of road safety, they would have been 300m back from the open road sign, in the village itself - there is a spot near the pub which gives a good line of sight view for the laser gun - where it is indeed dangerous to be going over 50km/h.
But no, the favoured hidey hole is comfortably past the centre of the village with its cluster of houses. The only buildings near "the trap" are the local garage and a house down a long drive.
There is not much road safety involved, but it's a perfect place to catch motorists who are picking up speed as the 100km/h sign appears.
Being old New Zealand, the locals tip each other off by cellphone, and those passing through - recognising a Government tax unit when they see one - usually flash their headlights at those entering the village.
What is the result? Aside from a few additions to the daily quota - sorry, "performance target" - it is a further lessening of respect for a police force which, quite apart from the sordid revelations surrounding Louise Nicholas, has come to be seen as comprising less police than traffic cops - who might possibly have time to respond to a burglary if they are not too busy.
It is now not uncommon to hear of policemen being beaten up while bystanders stand idly by - sometimes even encouraging the assailants. Fifteen years ago, one commonly read stories of policemen in such situations being assisted by members of the public. Coincidence? I don't think so.
There have been a number of calls over the years for a separation of true policing from revenue gathering by means of speeding tickets. It is high time for a proper debate on that issue. For my money, speeding tickets should be handed out by people who can't pass the entrance exam to Trentham Police College, and leave policemen to solve and prevent crimes.
* David Garrett is an Auckland barrister.
