Thin Blue Line Outnumbered By Soprano Type Gangs

¡§There are almost as many internationally linked paua smuggling rings in New Zealand as there are front line Fishery Officers,¡¨ said Martin Cooney, organiser with the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) today. He was releasing the number and location of the Fishery Officers in New Zealand (attached) to assist in the debate over law and order issues in New Zealand.

¡§Certainly there are more Soprano like criminal networks than there are Fishery Surveillance Officers,¡¨ said Martin Cooney. ¡§New Zealand has just 89 such Officers spread over 18 offices in the country. MFish estimates there are more than 70 internationally linked paua smuggling rings alone operating in the country poaching about $100m of paua and with drug links as well.¡¨

¡§Yet our Fishery Officers are expected to police the recreational, customary and commercial fishing areas as well as dealing with these poaching/drug black market activities. However, Honorary Fishery Officers (about 150) do help with recreational fishing issues.¡¨

¡§The community needs to know our Fishery Officers are outnumbered, undervalued and underprotected in the battle over law and order in this country,¡¨ said Martin Cooney. ¡§As well as this, statistics show an increasing trend of violence towards Officers.¡¨

¡§If there was not a serious law and order issue, then Fishery Officers would not be complaining about the Ministry failing to provide pepper spray and ASP batons to protect officers and allow them to do their job,¡¨ said Martin Cooney. For more information: Martin Cooney (03) 377 3582 (w) or 025 644 1918

Thin Blue Line: Number and Location of Fishery Officers (FSOs) ¡§Frontline Officers¡¨ ¡§Support Officers¡¨ „³
Location FSOs Investigator Analyst Manager Training Other
Kaitaia 3 0 0 0 0 0
Whangarei 7 0 0 1 0 0
Auckland 18 2 0 2 0 0
Hamilton 3 0 0 0 0 0
Tauranga 8 1 2 1 1 2
Whitianga 2 0 0 0 0 0
Opotiki 1 0 0 0 0 0
Napier 6 0 0 1 0 0
Gisborne 5 0 0 0 0 0
Masterton 2 0 0 0 0 0
Wellington 7 1 0 1 0 1
National 0 2 7 0 0 4
Observers 0 0 0 0 0 1
HQ 0 0 0 0 0 2
New Plymouth 3 0 0 0 0 0
Nelson 6 1 0 1 0 1
Blenheim 2 0 0 0 0 0
Christchurch 5 2 0 1 0 1
Dunedin 4 1 1 1 2 1
Chatham Islands 1 0 0 0 0 0
Invercargill 6 1 0 1 0 0
Total 89 11 10 10 3 13

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