7 April 2005

Council to request more police for Manukau

A delegation from Manukau City Council has requested a meeting with Police Minister George Hawkins, Police Commissioner Rob Robertson and Counties Manukau District Commander Steve Shortland to seek more police numbers for Manukau. The decision to seek the meeting was made at today's Community Safety Committee meeting.

Mayor Sir Barry Curtis, along with Councillor Dick Quax and Councillor Sharon Stewart, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Community Safety Committee, will make up the delegation.

Sir Barry said, "Counties Manukau police do a superb job but we believe that more staff would give them more ability to improve security and safety in our city and make an impact on the current number of unassigned cases. The Council strives to do all it can to support the police force and in our discussions with the Minister we will be seeking an increase in the numbers of officers on our streets."

Statistics show that Manukau has a lower number of sworn officers per head of population than the national average. However, recorded crime rates have fallen consistently and Counties Manukau was one of the three top districts with reduced crime levels. The rate has fallen 13 per cent over the past two years. The resolution rate has increased slightly and the crime rate per head of population is below the national average of one thousand per 10,000 people, placing Counties Manukau seventh out of the 12 police districts in New Zealand.

ENDS

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