More police, mobile DNA facility for Auckland

Auckland will receive 50 additional police in early 2004 as well as a specialist mobile DNA squad following today's Budget.

Police Minister George Hawkins said 32 of the additional police will be involved with emergency response, providing an extra 49,600 hours annually of police patrol and response time.

"Half of the new staff will come on stream in the 2004 financial year and the rest in the 2005 financial year," Mr Hawkins said.

Total operating costs for the initiative will equal $13.1m over four years, as well as capital costs of $560,000 over the next two years.

Mr Hawkins said a squad of three new specialist teams of investigators dedicated to expanding collection of DNA samples in metropolitan Auckland have also been funded.

"The three teams each comprising two sworn and one non-sworn staff, will form a mobile collection capability to attend crimes scenes and offenders in cells, could generate a further 3500 samples annually and generate 500 DNA 'hits' a year.

"It is estimated each 'hit' could see between five and 10 offences resolved annually, particularly property offences," Mr Hawkins said.

The initiative will cost $7.26m in operating costs over the next four years and $138,000 in capital costs during 2003/04.

More information: Note that while the Budget funds 50 additional general operational staff for the Auckland area with recruitment beginning in early 2004, it additionally also allows for three teams of two sworn and one non-sworn staff for DNA operational work and a clandestine laboratory team of five sworn and two non-sworn staff. This brings to 66 the overall number of new staff in the Auckland area.

Notes "66 Operational staff for Auckland" is based on total additional staff funded in the Budget announcement to take effect over two years. It includes

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