Volunteers 'only with officers'

By Mathew Dearnaley

Civilian volunteer crime-fighters prescribed in Labour's election manifesto will not be allowed on patrol without police officers, says Manurewa MP George Hawkins.

The volunteers would have no authority to arrest people, but Mr Hawkins, Labour's police spokesman, envisaged legislation to give them more powers than the general public.

"They won't be warranted like the police but their status will certainly be above members of the public," he said.

Volunteers would also have special uniforms and receive a small daily allowance.

"They will be assisting police ... and if a policeman is beaten up and they come to the rescue they will have to be given protection in law."

Because the volunteers would be used only to support rural police who now risked their lives by patrolling alone at night, there was no danger they would steal jobs.

"I would be totally opposed to that as a good union man," said Mr Hawkins, a former branch chairman of the Post Primary Teachers' Association.

While not wanting to get into a campaign "auction" over total police numbers, he said these would certainly increase in time under a Labour administration.