Frontline police numbers in freefall

The number of constables on the beat has fallen over the past six years in all but one of the country’s 12 police districts, says Labour’s police spokesperson Kelvin Davis.

“The number of general duties constables now stands at 2593 this year, a drop of almost 18 per cent since 2009.

“This is a terrible indictment of a Government that talks the talk on police numbers but has allowed the number of constables handling crime and complaints to fall year after year.

“In Northland alone the number of general duties constables has tumbled from 140 in 2009 to just 113.

“Across the country high volume crimes such as burglaries have a very low resolution rate. However revenue gathering policing is up, increasing by nearly $15 million dollars.

“Despite this funding for the police in the Budget was reduced by a whopping $15.3 million.

“Police say they want a higher presence in New Zealand communities, yet there is no money or staff to increase foot patrols,” says Kelvin Davis.

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1506/Police_numbers_CH_4Jun15.pdf

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