Media Release
10 December 2003

Police/Traffic Merger To Be Reviewed

New Zealand First has set up a special caucus committee to review the Police/Traffic merger implemented by the National Government in 1992.

The committee comprises Deputy Leader Peter Brown and fellow MPs Dail Jones, Ron Mark, and Jim Peters, and welcomes input from the public and any organisation with an interest in this matter. Submissions can be made via the New Zealand First website at www.nzfirst.org.nz and absolute confidentiality is assured. A special link has been provided for this purpose.

Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters said that it was essential that the widest possible range of views be obtained in order to ensure an outcome reflective of our community’s viewpoint.

“We need to consider whether the claimed benefits of the merger have materialised and evaluate the negatives arising from combining traffic and police enforcement. and to be assured that the merger is working in the best interest of everyone concerned including motorists, road planners, police, LTSA and local authorities and assess the anecdotal evidence that suggests otherwise.

“A great deal of correspondence has already been received on the effects of changing attitudes towards Police given that they are now seen primarily as a traffic focused revenue gathering agency of central government.

”General policing is now thought by many to have become the ‘poor relation’ within Police and front line staff are reporting less co-operation from the public in gathering hard evidence, greater reluctance to do jury service, and to generally act as eyes and ears for Police.

“The caucus committee has been asked to complete its work by April 2004 so that its recommendations and any legislative changes are fully developed in time for the next general election,” said Mr. Peters.

ENDS

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