Police system ‘not working’

The figures don’t lie and Waikato’s top cop was left grappling for an answer.

Crime statistics obtained by the Cambridge Community Board via an Official Information Act request presented by chairman Mike Pettit demonstrated the new model of policing in Cambridge is failing.

Police redeployed frontline staff to other areas in 2015 after instigating a hub in Te Awamutu to service Cambridge overnight.

Western Waikato Police Area Commander, Inspector Naila Hassan defended the new policing model when she met with the board. She said the Hamiltonbased central command centre directs frontline officers to trouble spots in the Waikato.

‘‘I only have limited resources,’’ she told the board.

‘‘It’s not my job to find more police, I can only work with the numbers I am given,’’ she said.

Ironically, Prime Minister Bill English announced a $503 million crime-fighting package the day after the community board meeting. It could mean the Waikato would receive an estimated 55 officers.

Hassan drew on crime figures for December ‘‘as being equivalent to the lowest since September 2015’’.

She appealed to the community to stop making itself a target.

‘‘Criminals are more sophisticated but they are also opportunists, if you leave your bag on the front seat of an unlocked car, you can expect it’s going to be stolen.

‘‘Cambridge isn’t the same as it was yesterday where you could leave home and not lock your door.’’

The upsurge in crime since the introduction of the new policing model was confirmed in the report obtained by the community board.

Pettit compared the police ratio per head of population to similar sized towns, Ashburton where the ratio is 1/794, Rangiora, 1/794 but Cambridge is 1/1307.

Under all headings, the report showed significant increases in reported crime for Cambridge.

It listed the numbers of calls to the Police Crime Line and the numbers of unanswered abandoned calls.

‘‘What is our community prepared to accept in relation to crime?’’ Pettit asked the board.

‘‘This new system is not working, Cambridge is not working,’’ he told Hassan.

Hassan made no comment regarding the report or the figures, other than she was satisfied with how the new command centre was running with the staff she had at her disposal, and will continue to ‘‘look at the situation’’.

Pettit is encouraged by an improvement but maintains the town needs a 24/7 policing.

‘‘However the current police structure does not allow for this,’’ he said.