Retired officers revisit the beat

Counties Manukau Police hosted 50 retired Police Officers at its District Headquarters to demonstrate how policing has developed within the last few decades.

The Police Commissioner Peter Marshall and Deputy Commissioner Mike Bush led a presentation on the new national operating strategy 'Prevention First.'

The strategy focuses on targeted policing to substantially reduce offending and victimisation by 2014/2015.

Overall, Police want all New Zealanders to be safe and to feel safe.

New Zealand Police has been ranked the 'most trusted government organisation' for the 2nd year in a row, but Commissioner Marshall is committed to a 'continuous improvement' model of policing. This model is being applied to all work groups nationally to improve productivity and service delivery to communities. As Commissioner Marshall said, "We are only as good as the last 24 hours."

Deputy Commissioner Mike Bush reinforced the Commissioner's comments saying, "It's not just a couple of staff or a couple of community cops. It's the responsibility of every police employee to prevent crime." 

Deputy Commissioner Bush acknowledged the five drivers of crime: alcohol; road policing; organised crime and drugs; families and youth, and guaranteed that Police are "going back to good basic policing skills," by getting more officers out on the street, faster.

Many of the retired officers were astonished at the positive, operational changes that were presented to them throughout the afternoon.

Retired Detective Inspector John Manning said, "It's a breath of fresh air, the new structure and attitudes of management are very positive".

Police are always looking to improve. The next five years will incur a lot of positive changes that will see the organisation continue to advance.