8 December 2009 Media Statement

Collins seeks to hide from harsh truth

Police fear that their traditional Christmas workload will be even tougher to handle this year because National budget cuts have forced police to chop 340 vehicles from their fleet, says Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

“Police Minister Judith Collins still won’t recognise the impact of the cuts, saying police have operational responsibility for finding savings, but if she tells police to spend $21 million less, then the ultimate responsibility is hers if things go wrong for police at Christmas,” Clayton Cosgrove said.

“Police working on the street, dealing with a whole swag of extra liquored-up and irresponsible people, as is normally the case during the festive period, know their job is about to become a whole lot tougher this year thanks to Ms Collins.”

Clayton Cosgrove said Police Association president Greg O’Connor has pulled no punches in attacking the impact of National’s budget cuts.

“In the latest Police Association newsletter, Greg O’Connor lists the myriad of extra demands police face at Christmas, including ‘the need to deal with a whole new army of smart-arse drunks’, and then asks a telling question,” Clayton Cosgrove said.

“Greg O’Connor asks, ‘how the hell to transport more people around for these duties with 10 percent fewer vehicles at your disposal’?

“Greg can’t answer that question, and nor can Judith Collins who just hopes it will go away,” Clayton Cosgrove said.

“In June this year she said there would be no drop in service delivery or dangers to public safety because of the slashing of the police fleet.

“Greg O’Connor, speaking on behalf of police working on the front line all around New Zealand, is telling the facts as they really are. No wonder Judith Collins tries to hide from the truth.”

ENDS

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