Change programme reduces need for city real estate

A range of proposed and actual changes to the way many Auckland City Police operate and where they operate from, will see new support and deployment units established and more staff accommodated in a reconfigured Auckland Central Police Station.

A District Command Centre will be established on part of the station’s top floor and, as part of its operations, it will encompass the CCTV monitors that are currently in the Downtown Police Station on Fort St.

District Commander, Superintendent Mike Clement, says with the recent government announcement of Mobility – whereby the majority of frontline staff will be equipped with devices including i-phones and i-pads in the coming months – it makes sense to reassess what staff consider their base location.

"Mobility devices will be rolled out in the district from late May and, as a result, staff will spend more time in the field and much less time in Police stations.

“We’re in a consultation period with the 30 beat and four support staff from the Downtown Station and have proposed they relocate to Auckland Central to work alongside their patrol group and public counter colleagues, respectively.

“If the proposal is accepted in its entirety, there won’t be any further need for the Downtown Station and Police interests in it will be sold off in a robust property market.

“Further, in keeping with the theme of centralisation and co-location of associated work groups, we’re proposing that the Police Prosecution Service relocate from its current rented accommodation in Albert St to what is currently the Barracks Bar at Central.

“I have endorsed the proposal that spaces in Auckland Central be reconfigured and refurbished to accommodate our colleagues in the prosecution service so that they can be nearer to our recently established 24/7 Case Management Centre.

“I’ve no doubt there will be disruption to many in the short term given that there is reconstruction and movement inherent in all these proposals, but we have to change with the times and make our buildings and office spaces fit for the purposes we want of them.”

ENDS

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Arguably Reassuring: Inspector-General Finds GCSB "Arguably" Legal

Of the 88 individuals:

• 15 cases involving 22 individuals did not have any information intercepted by GCSB.

• another four cases involving five individuals were the subjects of a New Zealand Security Intelligence Service warrant and the GCSB assisted in the execution of the warrants. The Inspector-General is of the view that there were arguably no breaches and the law is unclear.

• the Bureau only provided technical assistance which did not involve interception of communications, involving three of the individuals, so no breach occurred.

• the remaining cases involved the collection of metadata, and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
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