Poor communication should not derail innovation; Police Association

“Police Administration deserves credit for looking for innovative ways to prevent offenders from entering into a system they can’t extract themselves from, although the execution in this case, by way of a poorly worded memo, has let them down,” Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

Mr O’Connor was commenting on the release of a document which indicated only young Maori drivers should be considered for an alternative resolution if found to be driving without a driver's licence.

“It would be a shame if the understandable public concern that followed the release of the memo derailed police strategies to prevent all young people and not just Maori from avoiding being caught up in a cycle of fines, arrest warrants, and subsequent involvement in the criminal justice system.

“Police officers are frustrated that once again poor communication has brought understandable criticism of them, when the planned outcome was something most New Zealanders would agree with; that is, an attempt to steer young people away from the criminal justice system.”

Mr O’Connor urged New Zealanders to give Police and other departments some licence to trial alternative strategies, and not to use mistakes as a reason to deny authorities the ability to innovate.

ENDS

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