15 February 2005

How Many Detectives Issue Traffic Tickets?

New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark is asking the Police Minister to explain why detectives are being taken off criminal investigations to carry out traffic duties.

Mr Mark claimed today that CIB staff are regularly required to carry out traffic duties when there is a shortage of traffic staff and the practice is becoming part of their rostered duties.

“This is hugely detrimental to their own core duties of solving crime.

“At a time when gangs are running joint venture operations internationally to supply methamphetamine products that have been tailor-made for the New Zealand market, we learn that detectives are spending their time on traffic duty. That’s a crazy situation.

“Can the Minister give an assurance that not one detective has been taken away from major investigations or from fighting organised crime in order to issue quota tickets?

“We doubt he can give this assurance because we know that traffic policing and the collection of revenue is the number one priority of this Minister and he made this plain last week with his discredited survey,” said Mr Mark.

ENDS

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