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Hawkins Had No Evidence For Cost Cutting
George Hawkins had no evidence that more than one police officer was misusing cellphones when he ordered the service to be cut, National's Police spokesperson Brian Neeson said today.
"Mr Hawkins' answer to a written parliamentary question proves that he found one instance of a police officer misusing a cellphone and used it to dress up what is essentially a cost-cutting measure.
"The Minister made a moral judgement on all police officers when there was absolutely no evidence that more than one officer was using a police cellphone to call sex lines.
"All police officers were punished for the actions of one officer, who had already resigned for the offence.
"Police are now on the beat in New Zealand without a communications tool which helped them fight crime.
"Mr Hawkins should just be honest with police and all New Zealanders and admit that taking cellphones off officers was a cost cutting measure, with no regard for the effect on crime fighting," Mr Neeson said.
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