Labour pledges 250 more community police

Helen Clark

Labour would double the number of community police by recruiting an extra 250 over the next two years, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today.

The announcement is the fifth of Labour's seven pledge-card election promises.

The 250 extra police would cost $12.5 million next year, rising to $25 million in the 2007/2008 financial year.

There could be a small additional cost in leasing visible shopfront spaces in some communities to accommodate the new community police.

Helen Clark said community police were visible and accessible to the public.

"By elevating their strategic importance and doubling their numbers, Labour will strengthen and further develop police capacity to work with local communities to prevent crime."

Helen Clark said since 1999, the Government had invested heavily in police, providing 1400 new positions.

Crime had fallen to its lowest level in over 20 years, she said.

"Fear of crime, however, is also damaging our communities. The public want a visible police presence on the streets, to provide confidence and reassurance that their local community is a safe place for their family to live in."

Helen Clark said community police would be able to engage more with the public and listen to local ideas and concerns.

"Community police will be able to work actively in their local communities, not just to tackle crime, but also to create safer communities where crime is less likely to occur."

The community police would:

* conduct walk-throughs of shopping precincts;

* talk to local business owners about their concerns;

* assist community groups to tackle problems like graffiti;

* provide crime prevention advice;

* identify at-risk individuals and families and refer them to support services;

* visit schools.

Community police would also be available to respond to emergencies.

Police commanders would decide which communities would get the new police first.

The funding for the extra 250 police would be on top of funding in the 2005 budget for an extra 265 police positions.

Helen Clark said frontline police numbers also needed to rise and would do as they had done every year under the Labour-led Government.

She took a veiled swipe at New Zealand First's policy to double police numbers in five years.

"It is not credible, however, to promise thousands more new police when the capacity of the police college and the labour market conditions in a strong economy mean that such numbers could not be recruited and trained without seriously compromising standards and quality."

At present there are 7577 sworn police officers in New Zealand -- up from 7027 in 1999.

Including non-sworn staff there are 9926 police staff -- up from 8767 in 1999.

Those figures do not include funding for new staff announced today, or in the budget.

Labour's four previously announced pledges are widening the rates rebate scheme for low-income earners, scrapping student loan interests for graduates who remain in New Zealand, creating 5000 more apprenticeships and putting a deadline on the lodging of historic Treaty of Waitangi claims.

- NZPA