Police road patrol fleet cut by 73

The number of police road patrol cars has been reduced by 73 as the force moves towards reducing total police vehicle fleet by 10 per cent, Labour MP Darien Fenton said today.

Ms Fenton said police had told her in written answers that police vehicle numbers had fallen by 157 with road policing vehicles contributing most to the reduction, falling from 763 to 690.

Ms Fenton said it was no wonder the road toll started rising last year.

"When the cut in the number of road policing vehicles is seen in tandem with the $50 million over three years National slashed from traffic policing in last year's budget, it's even harder to be optimistic (that the road toll will come down)," Ms Fenton said.

Other police vehicle reductions were made in the areas of CIB, administration, general duties and specialist vehicles.

Last year former deputy commissioner Lynn Provost said a 10 per cent cut in vehicles would save $2.4 million without compromising service as part of a drive to cut $21 million from the police's $1.5 billion budget.

The move to cut the fleet was first reported by the Herald in June.

- NZPA