Police time 'wasted on looking after parades by foreign dignitaries'

The Government was accused yesterday of tying up police resources to provide security for a parade of visiting dignitaries.

Police Association President Greg O'Connor called Prime Minister Helen Clark "naive" to expect police to investigate low-level crime while frontline officers are being pulled off duty to protect VIP visitors.

The Prime Ministers of four countries - Sweden, Norway, Australia and Bahrain - have made official visits in the past eight weeks. And the Malaysian Prime Minister arrives in the country today.

The heads of the Pacific nations of Samoa, Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands were also in Auckland last week for a Pacific Forum meeting, and Prince Charles spent six days in the country on an official tour this month.

"To expect those people to get the full-on treatment, even though many of them have very low risks, and still attend thefts of coke bottles in South Auckland, with the current environment, is just naive," said Mr O'Connor.

"She's been very poorly advised about police capability."

Helen Clark yesterday said police were "ill-advised" to send a letter to victims of crime telling them their cases would not be investigated because they were not considered high priority.

The practice was highlighted in the case of a South Auckland dairy owner who supplied police with video footage of a man stealing a bottle of coke from his shop.

Six days later, he was told no attempt would be made to catch the thief. The letter, signed by Sergeant Shane Fogarty, of Papakura police, said a high volume of complaints and limited resources meant each complaint was evaluated in terms of the likelihood of offenders being caught and prosecuted.

It said the seriousness of the offending was also taken into account.

Helen Clark said the police should investigate cases where there was evidence of a crime. "[Police Minister] Mr Hawkins has told Cabinet this morning that he has discussed the matter with the police. It would appear the letter that went from the sergeant was ill advised," Helen Clark said.

"I think most people would expect where there was clear evidence of an offence there would be action."

Mr O'Connor said police officers had noted the number of VIP visits recently and planners were "rolling their eyes" and saying "here's another one".

"It's interesting ... these dignitaries are being invited and yet she still demands police attend thefts, she still demands there be sufficient police to attend to the security needs to the dignitaries.

"It's very naive to think you're going to be able to do that and attend to every minor theft. ... You can't have your cake and eat it."

Police Commissioner Rob Robinson said there had been a number of high-profile visits this year but there was "nothing unique around that".

"We've had a busy time in 2005 around dignitary protection, but if you take it back over the past few years it's nothing out of the ordinary."

He said the police operation around Prince Charles' visit was spread around the country.

"It does have an impact on how we deploy staff on that day but that's a rostering issue so we endeavour to treat those operational staff separate from the general response staff."