KEY POINTS:
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has been exploring the possibility of having sheriff-style street patrols, but police and the National Party are not warming to the idea.
Mr Shadbolt has been talking to security advisors about initiatives to try and fight violent crime in the city, including getting sheriffs and marshals voted in by the community, the Southland Times reported.
"With violent crime increasing as dramatically as it is the community feels something has to be done," Mr Shadbolt said.
The idea included voting in a police chief based on the applicant's policies, and voting them out if they failed to deliver.
The scheme would be funded by the criminals, who would be fined for offending.
However, Police Association vice-president Stuart Mills said policing should be left to police - something National Party police spokesman Chester Borrows agreed with.
"We believe the New Zealand police are the body charged with dealing with law and order and they should meet public expectation," Mr Borrows said.
"We are happy to talk to Mayor Tim about how the New Zealand police can best meet his concerns in Invercargill."
- NZPA
