DOC staff wearing body armour
When Rod Hansen became a fishery officer more than 20 years ago, he started with a blue shirt and a blue hat. These days, those out conducting compliance checks also wear stab-resistant body armour and even body cameras, in response to an increased risk of threatening behaviour and assaults towards fishery staff on the job.
It’s the same with the Department of Conservation, which quietly rolled out its own stabresistant body armour policy earlier this year.
Data obtained under the Official Information Act shows that there have been 12 incidents of fishery officers being verbally threatened or assaulted while doing their jobs over the past three years across Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington.
This includes a November 2020 incident in which a Hawke’s Bay fishery officer was struck in the face when trying to inspect a group of divers’ catch. It was classed as a ‘‘minor injury’’.
The same month in Wellington, an officer retreated to his car after a man became ‘‘agitated’’ and ‘‘verbally abusive’’, then picked up a large stone and threw a screwdriver at his vehicle.
In a separate incident, another officer had a dive tank thrown at them while making an inspection in Wellington.
In August this year, a Wellington man became ‘‘obstructive’’ and attempted to strike an officer after being told they wanted to inspect his catch. No serious injuries were reported, but three charges were laid in relation to threatening and aggressive behaviour.
Over the same period, DOC staff in the same area reported 14 personal security incidents, including one assault this year. None resulted in injuries or charges being laid.
The number of reported incidents ‘‘appears to be stable in the last 12 months’’, DOC said.
Hansen, a former DOC compliance and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) fishery officer who was based in central Hawke’s Bay for nearly 25 years before stepping down in 2020, said the risks had increased hugely.
There were many reasons for this, including the current economic situation – ‘‘people are struggling to pay their rent, put food on the table’’ – as well as mental health and addiction
issues. The black market, amplified through social media and vehicle access opening up new stretches of coastline, had also added to the problem.
‘‘It all flows into that aggression on the frontline,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘When you’re on fisheries jobs, you’re dealing with people with knives all the time.’’
The number of jobs requiring backup had increased as well, especially with offenders facing fines, court action, or having their boat seized.
Hansen said there was always degree of anxiety that came
with confronting people. ‘‘You just never know entirely which way it’s going to go.’’
He said working with local police, hapū and kaumātua was key. The Government had also spent a lot of money on training, technology, and making the job safer.
Gary Orr, director of compliance services, said MPI recognised that fishery officers were at risk of assault, injury, threats and intimidation.
Staff were given training, advice and equipment that supported their safety as well as
the safety of the people they interacted with, he said in a statement accompanying an OIA response. MPI’s risk management framework focused on proactive risk identification and management, including six-monthly defensive training.
Stab-proof body armour was made compulsory in 2008, and MPI introduced body cameras late last year to help keep fishery staff safe.
The rollout of body cameras was completed by the end of May this year, and MPI intended to measure its benefits by comparing reported incidents against those in previous years, Orr said.
Harry Maher, DOC’s director of health, safety and security, said some staff in certain circumstances where intelligence indicated a high level of risk wore stab-proof body armour. The policy was introduced in June.
Staff also received specialist training in things like deescalation, situational awareness, and tactical communications.
John Wallwork, DOC’s national compliance manager, said the policy was introduced because the department recognised that attitudes were changing, particularly around compliance and enforcement activities for agencies.
‘‘We want, and have a responsibility to ensure our staff are equipped with the best protection while carrying out their work.’’
‘‘You’re dealing with people with knives all the time.’’ Rod Hansen, ex-fishery officer