Election candidate panel: is five new officers enough? Photo/File
Election candidate panel: is five new officers enough? Photo/File
We asked Rotorua candidates for the general election whether the allocation of three Tactical Crime Unit officers and two Child Protection Team positions is an appropriate first-year response to Rotorua police and crime issues.
Fletcher Tabuteau
Fletcher Tabuteau, Rotorua candidate, current List MP for NZ First
The simple answer is no, it is not. This is not a reflection of police operational decisions rather it is a reflection of the fact that under the National Party the ratio of police to population has decreased hugely because of a funding freeze that has lasted more than seven years.
Even with the promised increase the ratio will still have us behind where they started. New Zealand First has promised 1800 extra police which would mean more officers for Rotorua and get us back to numbers that can protect our streets and combat the drugs on our streets.
The Green Party supports the police core roles of investigating and resolving serious crime, with a strong emphasis on community policing. The three new Rotorua TCU constables go some way to reversing National's reductions in per-capita police numbers while in government, which resulted in a rise in offending in some categories in Rotorua.
Meantime National is still failing to listen to expert advice, declining to adopt a simple recommendation of Parliament's Law and Order Select Committee earlier this year that police should record serial numbers of all firearms upon renewal of licence or inspection of premises.
Being tough on crime has always been a priority. We've given police more tools to target criminals and gangs and technology to spend less time behind desks and more out on the beat.
This year's $503m Safer Communities package is good for communities and bad for criminals.
Rotorua's just received five from 15 additional frontline officers in the Bay, three will be constables and two others will work with the Child Protection Team. The Bay will get 69 police over the next three years and we can expect as many as 23 additional officers for Rotorua. I'll be pushing for our 'fair share'."
Ben Sandford
Ben Sandford, Rotorua candidate, Labour Party
The new constables are a welcome addition to our fantastic local police force and are needed after years of neglect by the National government whose lack of interest in ordinary New Zealanders has resulted in the latest increases in crime.
There is an average of three break-ins and one assault in Rotorua every day. Since 2016 Labour policy has been a 1000 new police officers, this at a time when the National government had frozen police numbers.
Labour will also bring back community policing and our policies for housing, education, employment and mental health will tackle the social issues that so many are suffering from and which are contributing to growing crime.
Tamati Coffey
Tamati Coffey, Waiariki candidate, Labour Party
Rotorua needs more police. Our current police are under resourced and have been doing a fantastic job in tough circumstances. We need more officers but we also need less crime. Crime is a symptom of poverty and we have that in bucket loads here. Let's reduce crime by reducing poverty, and it's our Maori families who are living in this poverty trap and they are suffering terribly this winter. Labour has the policy to not only better support our police but reduce crime before it starts by reducing poverty. Better Homes, Better Healthcare, Better Police, Better Lives - Heke Tatau!
Te Ururoa Flavell, incumbent Waiariki MP, Maori Party
I support the addition of more officers to the policing resources in the Bay of Plenty district.
I believe that the police are best placed to decide what resources should be allocated and the best place for them to be stationed. They have an incredibly difficult job to do as it is without politicians telling them what to do.
Rotorua Maori Party candidate Wendy Biddle did not respond.
