"Waitematā to benefit from additional Police"

District Commander Tusha Penny has welcomed the 107 officers allocated to Waitematā today by Police Commissioner Mike Bush.

The new staff were allocated as part of the 1800 additional Police funded through a $298.8 million increase in Budget 2018 that built on an increase from the previous year.

“This new investment into Waitematā is very welcome. It will enhance the transformation work we have undertaken across the district to ensure we are fit for purpose. Our first priority is to put more officers on the front line to improve response times and service delivery for our communities to prevent crime and victimisation. Community safety is at the heart of what we do,” says Superintendent Penny.

In addition to increasing frontline officers to prevent and respond to crime and calls for service in this financial year, Waitematā will then establish a new Precision Targeting Team that will focus on priority and prolific offenders to reduce crime such as burglary, robbery and theft.

The allocation also includes the introduction of a Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce in order to combat and prevent gang-related crime such as methamphetamine supply, violence and intimidation, and other serious offending.

“Warkworth and nearby Wellsford are a rapidly growing community in the district and this financial year we will provide a 24/7 service from Warkworth Station. We know that the road network is a high-risk crash location and the prevention of crashes will be a focus.

We will be deploying staff to prioritise the needs of these rural communities to ensure their safety and well-being of people travelling on the roads.”

All 12 District Commanders will now be working their leadership teams to determine deployment decision at an area and station level.

These decisions will be communicated once confirmed.

ENDS

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