Cutbacks Revealed In Wellington Police Numbers
National understands that Wellington will have at least 30 fewer police on the beat by June next year as a result of
cost cutting imposed by Police Minister George Hawkins, National's Police spokesperson Brian Neeson said today.
"It's not just Wellington that is losing police. Nationwide there will be a shortage of 340 police on the beat because
of cutbacks in recruit training and non-replacement of retiring officers or those that resign from the force. Areas
likely to be worst hit are Auckland and other main centres.
"National worked steadily for three years to grow police numbers from 6,400 to 7,000. Yet in a matter of months under
the Labour/Alliance Government we will have lost half of that increase and opened the door to further deterioration in
police numbers after that.
"The cutbacks will have to come from the frontline or community policing. Either way, the government is virtually asking
for a disaster to happen.
"Mr Hawkins is playing Santa to the crims in New Zealand this Christmas," Mr Neeson said.
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