'Decoys' fudge police count, says National

The Government has been accused of using "decoy cops" to boost police numbers, after it was revealed civilians wearing police uniforms are being used to guard crime scenes and transport prisoners.

The police currently employ 330 "temporary constables" who wear the normal police uniform but have only received basic training.

The temporary constables have no powers of arrest and do not carry pepper spray, batons or handcuffs.

The Office of the Police Commissioner said last night that the practice of temporary constables wearing police uniform was under review and a different uniform was being considered.

In Parliament yesterday the Opposition attacked the practice, saying it would reduce the public's confidence in the police and cause confusion.

"How do rural members of the public know, when they approach a person in police uniform and in an emergency situation, whether that person is a sworn and fully trained police officer, a decoy cop, or the lead singer from the Village People," National's police spokesman Simon Power asked.

Police Minister Annette King defended the practice, saying it had been in use for the past 10 years.

However, the temporary constables have been wearing police uniforms only since last November.

Mr Power sought an assurance that the temporary constables would surrender their uniforms once they ceased duty, saying triple murderer William Duane Bell wore a police shirt to gain access to the Panmure RSA.

Ms King said she had been advised by the Office of the Police Commissioner that the temporary constables had to return their uniforms.

Green Party police spokesman Keith Locke queried whether the "temporary constables" were committing the offence of impersonating a police officer.

Ms King said temporary officers could legally wear police uniform because they were sworn officers.

Mr Locke said the temporary constables should be dressed differently.

The Police Association also said putting civilians in police uniforms to guard crime scenes was confusing.

Mr Power said the number of temporary constables had risen from 15 in 2004 to 330 this year and asked if the increase was to cover the 379 officers who left the police in the last year.

Ms King denied this and said the Government was committed to recruiting and training 1000 more sworn police officers, 250 non-sworn staff and provide the infrastructure to support them over the next three Budgets.