Staff rebuke police boss over porn emails probe

Police Commissioner Rob Robinson says some of his own staff criticised him for going public on the investigation into police email.

Speaking to the Cashmere Rotary Club in Christchurch, Mr Robinson said he had received support but also criticism from staff for his headline-grabbing decision to investigate 330 police staff over pornographic emails.

"It wasn't a comfortable place to be last Thursday. It was an intense day - even some of my own staff did not believe it was the right thing for me to do, to stand up and be critical of our own organisation."

Mr Robinson said police were human and made mistakes, but "we don't sweep things under the carpet".

On the subject of police resources, he said it was not his job to ask the Government for more money. Rather, he had to use what he had to the best effect.

Statistics showed crime was falling, he said, and media allegations that police were massaging the figures were based on "skinny evidence".

"If I thought we were going down the gurgler I would be talking to you in those terms. We still have the highest-quality police organisation in any Western democracy."

He said the legalised highs of party pills should not be regarded as "benign".

"Some politicians would say it's fine and we should be legalising cannabis. I just shake my head because I've seen kids banging their heads against cell walls. I've seen people destroy themselves because of drugs."

It was up to communities "to say enough is enough" and take action against drugs.

"If you expect agencies like the police to solve it, it ain't going to happen."

- NZPA