Budget constraints underpin staff cuts, stations closures

14 March 2013

Budget constraints underpin staff cuts, stations closures

Cuts to budgets and non-constabulary support positions underpin station closure or hours/service reduction proposals not only in Auckland and the Hutt Valley, but around New Zealand, Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“Police commanders who have to make these decisions will always argue a local station is not necessary to deliver service to a community, even though such closures inevitably reduce the comfort the Police presence gives law abiding citizens, and the discomfort it gives criminals,” Mr O’Connor said.

“But while any individual station closure can be rationalised, the reality is these changes are happening because Police Districts are being forced to make budget savings, and cut non-constabulary support positions.

“Police are re-centralising support functions, for example into the new File Management Centres, Criminal Justice Support Units, and Crime Reporting Line.

“Because there is no new funding, these initiatives have seen support staff pulled out of smaller stations and transferred to the new units, or in some cases, simply disestablished. As a result, some smaller stations now simply do not have the staff to allow them to stay open to the public.

“Police HR figures show there were 3086 non-constabulary Police employees in December 2011. As at December 2012, that number had dropped to 2905 – a reduction of 181 fulltime equivalent positions.

“With budget and staff cuts of the magnitude Police is currently forced to implement, it is inevitable public service will be affected. Station closures are a part of that,” Mr O’Connor said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media