Source: Federated Farmers
NZ Police should have heard loud and clear at two public meetings last night that rural families and businesses are deeply concerned about proposed staffing changes, Bex Green says.
The Federated Farmers North Canterbury president says the turnout of more than 500 people at the Culverden meeting alone should ring alarm bells for Canterbury Police District Commander Tony Hill.
Superintendent Hill told the meeting one of the reasons behind the proposal to reduce staff at a number of rural stations, and close the Arthur’s Pass station, was a relatively low level of crime reported from those areas.
“That’s where we’re misaligned on this,” Green says.
“It was very clear last night from audience comments that it’s all the preventative, behind-the-scenes work done by the officers who live and work in our communities that heads off so much offending.
“That sort of work isn’t always logged – but it’s extremely effective.
“Our local cops know every single detail about our community; they know the people, who their children are, who to contact if there’s something amiss.”
Green says police offered assurances over new rural liaison officer roles and roading officers, and that the Rangiora police hub is not that far away.
“But those officers won’t know all that crucial work that our local officers do.
“The rural people who spoke up last night with such passion made it very clear how vital they think that local police presence is for them.”
Federated Farmers also organised a second public meeting at Leeston, also held last night.
Local farmer and Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean thought the turnout of more than 50 residents was a clear signal of local concern given there had only been 48 hours’ notice.
Like Bex Green, he gives credit to Canterbury police leaders for fronting up, but says residents were critical this was the first they’d heard about proposed changes in a review process that started 18 months ago.
“I understand they’ve got to work things through with their staff affected, but when were local residents going to be clued in? It all seems to have been so hush-hush.
“They said last night they were waiting for people to ask for meetings with them but if you don’t know a change is being considered, how do you know to ask for a meeting?” Dean says.
There was also frustration over the lack of detail on the role of proposed new rural liaison officers (RLOs), Dean says.
“It seemed they hadn’t decided the hours of these RLOs and the scope of their work, but we heard if there was a call-out, and they were closest, they’d still be activated.
“So, what’s the difference between that and having the police staff we have at our local stations as now?”
Dean says if Rolleston needs more police, then numbers there should be boosted – but not at the expense of rural coverage.
“The likes of Lincoln and Leeston are growing towns as well. They deserve an increased police presence – not a lower one.”
Police patrol cars driving through rural towns from time to time isn’t the same as having officers stationed there who know the community intimately, Dean says.
“Police assured us last night that these are only proposals and not final decisions, which might have settled the concerns of some people.
“But it certainly didn’t take away the angst of everyone in that room.”
