“Mr Lepper should stop hassling our local police and deliver on the extra front line police his party promised during the election campaign last year,” National List MP for Rotorua Max Bradford said today.

Mr Bradford was commenting on Mr Lepper’s criticism of local police for “not doing their job” by preventing vandalism amongst Maisey Place businesses.

“Mr Lepper is simply wringing his hands. George Hawkins and Steve Chadwick promised Rotorua voters before the last election that they would increase front line police numbers if they were elected.

“Nothing has happened. Mr Lepper along with other councillors wrote an open letter to Peter Smith, the local Police Commander, a few weeks ago about policing in Ngongotaha about police numbers, but it has gone nowhere.

“Mr Lepper is a prominent member of the Labour Party in Rotorua and is in a position to call Mrs Chadwick to account for her Party’s promises. I have written to Mr Lepper about the matter, and will be taking it up again with George Hawkins.

“I call on Mr Lepper to act now, rather than simply wring his hands. I am also prepared to join with Mrs Chadwick and make an approach to the Government to do what is right by Rotorua’s police.

“Simply put, that is to deliver on the Government’s pre-election promise to increase front line police numbers now,” said Mr Bradford.

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