Hon. Tony Ryall MP National Police spokesman

11 May 2005

Police review a bombshell

National’s Police spokesman, Tony Ryall, says the report into the police communications centre is “a bombshell” that shows the public and frontline police are at risk.

“This report proves everything we said:

Police are unable to respond to calls. There is a complete lack of leadership. There is a complete lack of faith in the system. The public and frontline police are at risk.

“This report reflects on the Minister and the highest level of the New Zealand Police. They have let the public down.

“There needs to be accountability. Think of the victims of the 111 debacles. They are the people who deserve accountability from Mr Hawkins.

“He knew about these problems and did nothing. In fact, he was saying all along that police had all the resources they needed, when clearly they didn’t.

“This review is an appalling indictment of George Hawkins’ watch as Minister in charge. He must never be allowed to preside over anything as important again.

“For an independent panel to find that it is ‘very concerned about the potential risks to the safety of the public’, that the centre ‘is not providing an adequate level of service’, and that ‘timeliness performance criteria are not being met’, is appalling after what this Minister has been saying for the past year.

“The police need a fresh start. I know what will give them that fresh start, and I know what will make this country safer – a new Minister of Police under a National Government,” Mr Ryall says.

ENDS

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