Burglary is a low risk career and will become even more popular if the Government proceeds with cuts to CIB staff numbers in Wellington, Labour police spokesperson George Hawkins said today.

"I have been warning for months that the national police review - a cost-cutting exercise by a National Government desperate to claw back some of the costs of the Incis debacle - would have a devastating effect on the Wellington region.

"Sworn police numbers in the Wellington City area have reduced by 20 percent since 1998 and now the Criminal Investigation Branch could be cut in half.

"There simply won't be enough detectives to investigate all the cases. Crimes like burglary will be noted, filed and never followed up.

"Already just 7 percent of burglaries in Wellington are solved. That percentage is set to fall even further.

"National's cost-cutting will deny the police the ability to respond to 'minor' crime and will leave the people of Wellington without the protection they deserve," George Hawkins said.

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