Party policies: Police numbers

1999: Sworn officers: 7027, total staff: 8767
2005: Sworn officers: 7577, total staff: 9926

Labour
Will double the number of community police to 500 by 2008. Says there is no question that frontline police numbers need to be increased and says police numbers will continue to rise.

National
Will boost sworn staff numbers, but have given no definite figure, saying it will work with the Police Commissioner to determine what is needed.

NZ First
Law and Order Policy
* 5000 more police over five years
* Demerge traffic from police
* Place electronic tags on potential recidivist serious offenders
* Lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12.

Greens
In the short term support an increase in police numbers to deal with front-line staff shortages, but have no definite number. The party envisions a dropping of offending with better social and economic policies, therefore requiring fewer police.

Act
Will boost police funding to allow an extra 2500 officers to match Australia's policing rate.

Progressives
Maintain adequate police staffing levels; ensure there are enough frontline staff to ensure that isolated officers are not placed at risk

United Future
Increase national police numbers to 10,000. The party says currently there is one officer for every 561 people, one of the worst police-to-population rations in the western world. By comparison, Canada has 1:531, the United States 1:438, and Australia 1:427. The proposed increase to 10,000 would reduce our ratio to 1:406.

Maori Party
Believe there needs to be a review of distribution of police resources.