Minister faces fresh flak over policing

Police Commissioner Rob Robinson complained to the Government in 2002 that it was eroding his ability to direct traffic policing staff to other "problem areas", it was revealed yesterday.

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark, who revealed details of the complaint made to Police Minister George Hawkins, told Parliament it contradicted claims by the minister that operational staffing decisions were a matter for the police.

It follows a series of attacks about police handling of 111 calls in Parliament and concerns that too many resources are being ringfenced for traffic police.

Mr Mark said Mr Robinson's concerns were raised in a November 2002 report entitled Issues Relating to Policing in the Auckland Area.

The report said police had then received 375 newly-funded sworn staff allocated by "strategic priority".

Of the new staff, 285 were paid to perform road policing duties, 33 were for counter-terrorism and 27 for youth aid.

The increased resource in strategic priority areas was welcome, Mr Robinson said.

"However the task-specific nature of these allocations has been eroding the flexibility historically available to me and to district commanders to distribute resources across emerging problem areas in a timely or responsive manner."

Mr Mark asked why the minister had publicly stated "that it is up to the commissioner how extra resources for police are used", given Mr Robinson's apparently contradictory statement.

Mr Hawkins replied: "Obviously, the commissioner was always looking for more resources. But ... since we became the Government we have provided over 1000 extra staff.

"In Auckland, we have provided 370 extra staff in that time. Of course, some of those things are ring-fenced; with others there is flexibility."

Mr Mark complained Mr Hawkins hadn't answered the question, but Speaker Jonathan Hunt ruled that he had.

Police meanwhile released a review that showed allegations of a poor 111 response in Christchurch were based on "factually incorrect assertions" in police staff emails.