Budget confirmation for funding the remainder of the promised 1250 additional staff will help police target the causes of crime, the Commissioner of Police, Howard Broad, said today.
The initiative will mean an extra $180 million per annum of investment in policing, once all of the new staff are in place.
Commissioner Broad said it was a significant investment in New Zealand police and shows the commitment to achieving safer communities through a strong police service.
"This investment reflects the increasing demands and complexity of policing. Our response and Criminal Investigation Branch staff face huge pressures as more people demand more services from police and the legislative environment demands greater detail for every case," Mr Broad said.
"The allocation of the 1250 was made by the Police Executive focusing on putting new staff into roles where they could add the most value. Priority was accorded to the causes of crime, in particular family violence and youth and supporting response staff."
Sixty staff have been assigned to communications centres, 32 as crime scene attendants, 35 for the Organised Crime Agency (on top of existing Serious Fraud Office staff) and over 50 to the Prosecutions Service.
"250 staff will be allocated to community roles, providing local solutions to local problems. I particularly note this year emphasis of a further 50 staff devoted to youth offending."
The 1250 new staff have been allocated as follows:
Operational 756 60%
Operational Support 344 28%
Administrative support 150 12%
Mr Broad said it had been a difficult decision between more officers into response roles and roles designed to prevent offending and reduce demand on responders.
"The complexity and demand for police services will continue to increase and our front line officers will always be busy. Careful consideration has been given between short term alleviation of pressure and sustainable changes to manage demand in the medium to longer term," said Mr Broad.
ENDS