Detectives' workload issues will be dealt with, say police

Greg O'Connor

Police Association issues over management of the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) would be addressed during a negotiated pay settlement, a police headquarters spokesperson said.

The association has warned a family or community tragedy will occur if police management do not address widespread dissatisfaction among detectives.

A survey of 258 Auckland metropolitan CIB detectives showed many felt there were not enough staff to cope with the high workload and more than half felt police did not value them.

The spokesperson said part of the police's negotiated pay settlement would include a process to "identify and progress issues" within the CIB.

"Under good-faith bargaining we are unable to participate in a public debate on such issues at this time."

Association president Greg O'Connor said police management was "sceptical" of the survey's findings, "issuing the same denials we heard regarding the methamphetamine and the communications centre problems".

"Pavlovian denials of the existence of major issues in the CIB will delay action until we reach a crisis, as happened with comms [centres]."

The survey was released in the latest issue of the association's magazine, Police News, which warned that police management must take action.

"The association is acutely aware that if the issues examined in the CIB report are not addressed, a system failure in the CIB will occur," it said. "This will bring tragedy to a family and/or community and more highly publicised criticism to the CIB and New Zealand Police."

Other survey findings:

* Some 75 per cent of detectives felt they had "too many" or "far too many" cases.

* Nearly 75 per cent said they "sometimes", "hardly ever" or "never" got a break before another investigation.

* More than 50 per cent were called back to work when on a day off or on leave.

- NZPA