The Police Association boss wants policemen back in helmets to help rebuild public confidence in the force.
Greg O'Connor said in this month's Police News magazine that bringing back helmets as part of the uniform would signal a change of direction and a point of difference with most of the rest of the policing world.
"Imagine the pleasant surprise the public would receive to see officers walking the beat and in helmets again," he said.
Mr O'Connor's comments follow a disastrous public relations year for the police with 111 botch-ups, staff shortages, and reports that dozens of police have been disciplined over pornography found on their computers.
Mr O'Connor said problems for the police force began in the 1990s.
"The decision to get rid of the helmets was made during the dark days of the 1990s when we all had to pray at the policing 2000 and Incis [ill-starred computer project] altar in the same way as we must blindly adhere to today's policing philosophies."
He said bringing back helmets would not fix all the problems police were facing, but would be "a small and visible start in a new direction, which would show that we value policing".
- NZPA
Police Association boss wants policemen back in helmets
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.