Chester Borrows hasn't got a clue about Sth Auckland policing, says King

National's police spokesperson Chester Borrows clearly hasn't a clue what is happening in South Auckland policing, says Police Minister Annette King.

"The more likely explanation, however, is that he and National are prepared to use every dishonest tactic they can to blind people to the inconsistencies involved in National's plan to put 300 extra police on frontline duties in South Auckland by 2010," she said.

"Yesterday I pointed out many of the reasons why National's plan is based on smoke and mirrors.

"Firstly, --- it is impossible to train that many extra police by then, given current recruiting and training programmes, so the only way to put that many extra police in South Auckland would be to rob other districts of their allocations.

"Secondly, National is promising to fund only half of what it would cost to provide that many extra police. It's paying the wages, and very little else.

"And thirdly, National has made no plans to accommodate the extra police in South Auckland," she said.

"Now Chester Borrows has been left floundering by his leader John Key as he tries to try to explain the detail of what is basically an inept and unworkable policy. Mr Borrows has resorted to blaming the Government for 'leaving South Auckland's police accommodation in an atrocious condition'.

"That's a downright lie. In March last year I opened the $13 million first stage of the magnificent new Counties-Manukau policing hub, the 31st new station opened under the Labour Government since 1999. The construction of the $22 million second stage is due to completed in a few days. We also opened the $2.3 million Manurewa station in 2003.

"All that's a huge investment in Counties-Manukau. Labour inherited police stations in atrocious condition when it entered office, but it has now completed more than 35 new or refurbished stations.

"That's the difference between Labour's policy on funding extra police and National's. Labour believes in funding the whole package --- staff, equipment, technology, cars and infrastructure. National just talks glibly about numbers."

ENDS

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