Volunteer cop plans slammed as too risky
Police have savaged proposals to establish a rural voluntary constabulary as too risky, justreleased documents reveal.
Labour was obliged to investigate the idea as part of their coalition deal with NZ First.
Police Minister Stuart Nash asked police to examine what powers they could have, where they might patrol, and what their duties would be. But the idea was slammed in a policy paper prepared by senior cops last year.
‘‘Police does not recommend introducing a Special Constabulary in New Zealand. Recruiting volunteers to undertake policing operations and apply police powers comes with a range of significant risks for the community and volunteers,’’ the report says.
‘‘It may also be perceived by the public and the unions as ‘policing on the cheap’. These risks would be exacerbated in rural communities where volunteers may operate with relatively low levels of constabulary support.’’
The paper was written in February 2018. Using the Official Information Act, Stuff requested a copy from police in November last year and the request was transferred to Nash, who refused to release it. National MP Chris Bishop also asked for the briefing, and was also refused a copy.
Stuff laid a complaint with the Chief Ombudsman and the documents were released this week.
As well as the policy paper, the bundle includes ‘‘talking points’’ for Nash in a future meeting with NZ First leader and deputy prime minister Winston Peters.
The police paper noted 100 additional officers and 40 extra support officers were already being deployed into rural communities.
It noted that special constables – who have full police powers – have not been used in New Zealand since the 1932 Depression ‘‘and are associated mostly with strike breaking and riot control’’.
It was proposed during the 1981 Springbok rugby tour ‘‘but this idea proved controversial’’.