Report of the New Zealand Police
for the year ended 30 June 2002
Presented to the House of Representatives Pursuant to Section 39 of the Public Finance Act 1989.
Commissioner's overview
The tragic events of 11 September 2001 in the United
States had a significant impact on policing in New
Zealand, as they had elsewhere in the world. Police
responded magnificently to the sudden demands placed
upon them in the area of public security to ensure the
maintenance of welfare and safety for all New
Zealanders.
We have contributed to enhanced aviation security
arrangements and investigated anthrax threats subsequent to the terrorist
attacks in North America. The cyanide poisoning threat which coincided with
Tiger Woods' participation in the New Zealand Golf Open posed a serious
threat to public and VIP security. Police mounted a significant operation in
order to maintain a high level of safety for all involved.
The visit by HRH Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh was postponed
in the wake of September 11, but did take place successfully early in the New
Year.
This year, as in all others, horrendous crimes were committed that transfixed the
nation and caused fear in the communities where they took place.
The kidnapping of baby Kahu and the murder of Kate Alkema both took place
within days of each other in the Hutt Valley. Both crimes were resolved in short
order and were testimony to the professionalism of the many staff involved.
In Auckland we were moved by the grief of Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA
members at the murder of Wayne Johnson, Mary Hobson and Bill Absolum. A
spate of armed robberies rocked the communities of South Auckland and
resulted in the murder of Marcus Doig and John Vaughan. The excessive
violence of these homicides was especially abhorrent and it was a relief to see
offenders arrested for these crimes.
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the merger between Police and the
Traffic Safety Service. As part of the continuing evolution of this important part
of our service the term "road policing" was approved as the generic name for
policing activities relating to roads. This included re-naming the Traffic Safety
Branch as the Road Policing Branch. The name change reflects the fact that road
policing is core policing due to its capacity to disrupt and reduce mainstream
crime.
Road policing now constitutes about one-fifth of our resources and while
significant gains have been made, there is no room for complacency if we are to
meet the challenging targets set by the Government of no more than 400
fatalities, and less than 5,870 hospitalisations by the year 2004.
KEY RESULTS
Features of the 2001/2002 financial year included:
- recorded crime (excluding road policing) up 2.8% and resolutions down
slightly from 42.9% to 41.8%. This was the second best year in the last 15 years
- resolution rates in excess of 40% maintained for three consecutive years
- burglary at its lowest level in 14 years with a 3% drop from the previous year
- a 3% increase in dishonesty offences - this was the largest crime category at
59% and impacted on the overall increase in recorded crime, with notable
increases in theft from cars up 12% and unlawful taking/car conversion up 5%
- recorded violence grew by 2% compared to the 8.6% increase in the previous
year
- sexual offences increased by 13.6% which is disturbing, despite the total
number of offences in this category being quite small compared with other
categories
- there was a total of 112 homicides of which 67 were murders. Homicide
resolution improved from 79.4% in the last fiscal year to 86.6%
- the rate of apprehensions per officer on directed patrol has steadily increased
from 1.3 in 1999/2000 to 2.1 in 2001/2002
- five of twelve Police Districts recorded either decreases or increases of less
than 1 percent in recorded crime
- the road toll at an all-time low of 430
- the Highway Patrol has been fully deployed since December 2001
- the Education Review Office undertook and completed its third review of the
Police Youth Education Service, concluding that the programmes continue to
be highly valued by schools and contribute to student well-being and safety
- the Crime and Justice Research Centre report on the Police Diversion Scheme,
demonstrated that in most respects youth aid practice is in line with the
Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989.
PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
I was heartened to see that in the face of a demanding year public trust and
confidence in Police is at an all-time high at 75%. Our job is to serve the people of
New Zealand without favour or affection, malice or ill will and there is no better
judge of our service than the public.
POLICE RESOURCES
Police staffing levels rose to a record high. By 30 June 2002 full-time equivalent
staff totalled 9,182, comprising 7,038 sworn staff, 2,017 non-sworn staff and 127
recruits.
It is important to remember the role played by non-sworn staff, many of whom
are active in operational roles. They include call-takers and dispatchers in our
Communications Centres, speed camera operators, forensic support and other
staff in a variety of operational settings. Adopting a flexible approach to the use
of staff is important if we are to meet the varied needs of policing in a timely and
cost-effective manner.
Appropriately remunerated staff are a necessity in helping to ensure a high
performing organisation. In this regard it was pleasing to see the main collective
employment agreements for sworn and non-sworn staff re-negotiated for a 19-
month period from December 2001 to July 2003.
A continuing challenge is to recruit staff according to gender and ethnic targets
which more closely resemble the community we serve. It was significant then
that this year I welcomed to the ranks of the Police Executive the first woman
District Commander, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, who leads the country's
largest Police District: Canterbury.
During the year Police undertook a vigorous recruitment drive which saw 533
recruits trained at The Royal New Zealand Police College.
AUCKLAND
Population growth and the dynamics of a cosmopolitan centre have challenged
our capacity to deliver optimum results in the greater Auckland metropolitan
area.
On any measure of organisational performance it is clear that the Auckland
Districts, particularly Auckland City and Counties Manukau, are under pressure.
This has been exacerbated by difficulties in competing in a fiercely competitive
employment market.
In April the Minister of Police announced a $2.5 million new initiatives package
to step up administrative and communications support for the front-line entailing
some additional 60 non-sworn staff. It has also been decided to proceed with a
pilot trainee scheme aimed at recruiting 17-22 year olds for the Auckland districts.
This should result in 90 trainees commencing study in January 2003.
Other initiatives including secondments and overseas recruitment will be
considered to address the issues which have emerged in Auckland in recent
years.
MĀORI RESPONSIVENESS
Over the last few years I have raised the importance of building partnerships
with Māori and the inclusion of a Māori perspective in policy and decision
making. While I continue to be impressed as to how far we have come in this
journey in a relatively short time, I look forward to making further progress.
In particular, we will broaden our partnerships with Māori and Pacific peoples'
communities and other ethnic communities within New Zealand.
Over the last year the Commissioner's Māori Focus Forum met three times.
Similar advisory forums have been replicated at District level providing valuable
input into the policing of local communities.
In October 2001 former Waikato District Commander Clint Rickards was
appointed Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Commissioners' Support
Group. Assistant Commissioner Rickards, of Tainui and Ngati Hikairo descent, is
the highest-ranking Māori officer in the organisation.
PARTNERSHIPS
During 2001/2002 a number of Pacific Island Liaison Officer positions were
established and are already providing a valuable contribution. The current
Cultural Affairs portfolio, based in my office, will be refocused to give more
support for initiatives with Māori, Pacific and Ethnic communities. This refocus
will see the creation of an Office of Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Services (OMPES).
The OMPES will provide strategic advice and assist in forging partnerships with
relevant agencies and communities around the country.
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
The "Police Strategic Plan to 2006" was published during the year. The Plan
provides a clear strategic statement of what Police aim to achieve in the next five
years, identifying two critical goals of community safety and crime reduction.
The five national priorities will be targeting:
- violence
- burglary
- youth safety
- organised crime
- road safety.
Under the auspices of Deputy Commissioner Lyn Provost "People in Policing: A
Five Year Human Resources Strategy to 2006" was published. The document was
developed in consultation with a number of staff and other stakeholders and
signals a longer-term focus on the full range of staffing issues. Importantly it will
see Police move to a simpler, more timely and flexible management of people.
In 2002, Police began developing an agency-level Violence Reduction Strategy.
This strategy will provide the framework for initiatives to reduce all forms of
violence, including violent crime, while balancing expected increases in demand
for policing services.
Over the past year we have been revisiting our Organised Crime Strategy and
plan to operationalise aspects of the strategy in the next financial year.
The Government's Youth Offending Strategy identified the need for even better
support and co-ordination of Police staff involved in the youth services area. A
National Manager: Youth Services will be appointed to take on this role. Plans for
improved service delivery will be set out in a new Police Youth Action Plan with
a view to ensuring standards are maintained and enhanced across the range of
youth services.
CONCLUSION
Police have worked across a wide range of areas to achieve some excellent results
and I thank all my staff, sworn and non-sworn, for the contribution they have
made during an exceptional year.
Rob Robinson
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
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Table of contents
COMMISSIONER'S OVERVIEW
ACHIEVEMENT OF KEY PRIORITY AREAS
REDUCING INEQUALITIES
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND SERVICE PERFORMANCE
Output Class One - Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing
Output Class Two - Policing Support to the Community Through Partnerships,
Education, Crime Prevention and Youth Programmes
Output Class Three - Directed Patrol Activities
Output Class Four - Police Primary Response Management
Output Class Five - Case Management
Output Class Six - Case Resolution
Output Class Seven - Enforcement of Court Orders
Output Class Eight - Custodial and Escort Services
Output Class Nine - Public and Personal Security
Output Class Ten - Vetting and Firearms Licensing
Output Class Eleven - Lost and Found Property
Output Class Twelve - Road Safety Programme
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of the Auditor-General
Additional Financial Information
INFORMATION REQUIRED BY STATUTE
Interception Warrants
Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)
ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION
REPORTS FROM SERVICE CENTRES AND OTHER GROUPS
STATISTICS
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