Hard criminals will be happy with the Christmas present they get this year - an under-resourced police force and fewer police on the beat, National's Police spokesperson Brian Neeson said today.

"Police Minister George Hawkins is celebrating the fact his new Highway Patrol will be on the roads in time for Christmas. Moves to decrease traffic incidents are always welcome, but should not be at the expense of other policing.

"We are hearing more stories every day about the effect the cutbacks are having on the ability of police to do their job. The Minister should be focussed on ensuring all police have the resources they need to fight crime and that we have enough police on the beat.

"Police stations are closing around the country. This makes it harder for people to contact their local police and I predict that phone lines to major police stations will be jammed over the busy Christmas period.

"National was on track to deliver a record number of police on the beat in New Zealand. Under this Government, rather than increasing the number of police on the beat, there won't be enough recruits to replace officers taken off the beat for the Minister's Highway Patrol, nor to replace those leaving the force," Mr Neeson said.

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