Minister to discuss introducing 'private police'

Annette King

New police Minister Annette King has opened the door to the prospect of private contractors investigating crimes for an overstretched police force - a suggestion that has been slammed by the Police Association.

Michael Barnett of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce suggested yesterday that police could employ members of the public in crime-fighting roles, such as asking accountancy firms to investigate financial crimes.

"I am not saying it is the answer but ... let's explore that," he said.

He was speaking in response to the airing of a top-level police report that revealed one in five crimes in the Auckland City district were not being investigated by police.

Mrs King said she would be willing to discuss the idea with Mr Barnett.

"I said when I got the portfolio that I'm interested in innovative ideas."

But Police Association president Greg O'Connor said though the current situation was "intolerable", hiring private contractors was not a feasible solution.

"It's not going to be any cheaper to have it done by private people, it's still going to have to be paid for.

"It's not going to solve anything."

Police had already been virtually forced to abandon fraud investigations because they were under-resourced, "which means that a lot of stuff is going unpunished because the police don't investigate it", Mr O'Connor said.

Part of the price of the Government's confidence and supply arrangement with NZ First was an agreement to fund the recruitment of a further 1000 police staff over the next three years.

Labour pledged during the election campaign to recruit 250 more community cops in the next two years. Mrs King said she would discuss the allocation of resources with Police Commissioner Rob Robinson.

But she said it was unfair to assign all the responsibility for law and order issues to the police, and that the community should pitch in.

National Party law and order spokesman Simon Power spoke scathingly of the Government's record, saying Mrs King had no choice but to listen to suggestions "from anybody that's got them".

He said hiring private contractors was a proposal that warranted further consideration. "I can't see any reason why you wouldn't have a look at it, given that the Government's current strategies are clearly failing."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY and NZPA