Jacinda Ardern
Police Spokesperson

17 April 2014

Resignation rates among cops soar

The number of frontline officers quitting the police force is at a four-year high, with more than 350 walking off the job in the past year, Labour’s Police spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

“Since 2009 resignation rates among sworn staff have tripled.

“That must surely sound alarm bells for Anne Tolley, a Minister who claims that police ‘are much happier under a National-led Government’.

“These are not retirements. They are resignations which require a decision to leave a job they have trained for and often given a significant commitment to.

“Every workforce experiences turn over, but the big jump in the number of sworn officers resigning over the last two years should send a strong message to Anne Tolley.

“It coincides with cuts to the Police budget.

“Factoring in inflation, those cuts have resulted in almost $88 million being slashed since 2008/09.

“The Minister might claim crime is falling and that the police can cope with the cuts, but you won’t find a district commander who thinks they could do with fewer staff.

“It’s time Anne Tolley took notice of the clear message she is being sent. She can’t keep asking the police to do more with less.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media