NZPA News Dec.pm65 - New Zealand Police Association

December 2002New Zealand Police Association NewsletterLetters to the Editor “Write It Here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.Signed letters are preferred, but in all cases the writer’s name and address must be supplied. Names will bepublished unless there is a good reason for anonymity. All letters are edited”. Write to: editor@policeassn.org.nzor post it to the Editor at PO Box 12344, Wellington.Staff retention inAuckland and SouthAucklandI am writing in relation to SteveAnderson’s letter in the Novemberissue of the NZPA Police News. Stevehas fairly and squarely hit the nail onthe head. He has accurately summedup what the vast majority of Aucklandand South Auckland cops are thinkingand feeling. Unfortunately most copsin the affected areas can’t bebothered putting pen to paperbecause they believe thatmanagement don’t really care. I’msure if more Auckland cops did putpen to paper the Newsletter would beflooded with 100’s of lettersexpressing the same feelings.I am not against cops coming toAuckland to help us out but here’ssome food for thought. The amountof money they are paying one out-oftowncop for a five week rotation inAuckland (excluding airfares andaccommodation) is roughly the sameamount of money that was suggestedas an Auckland allowance for one copfor a year. Now I’m no mathematicalgenius but to me this does not makegood financial sense. I realise that anAuckland allowance is an ongoingcost but, if there was such anallowance, it is highly likely thatthere would be no need for milliondollaroperations to bail Auckland outof the poo. It is about timemanagement took a serious look at along-term solution to the problem.Congratulations to Steve for a wellwritten letter that accurately capturesthe mood of Auckland and Counties/Manukau staff.Chris Robson, ManurewaSticking plasters peeloff - get to the heartof the AucklandproblemThe arrogance and contempt that theWellington bureaucrats in the NewZealand Police show for the swornofficers in the NZ police is disgusting.For three years Police have struggled inAuckland and now we have a stickingplaster.We know that if you leave a wound178uncovered for a long time, dirt getsinto the wound and long-terminfection is the result.How many millions of dollars of theirINCIS Computer blunder have theyrepaid to government in the last threeyears by not addressing the staffingcrisis in the Auckland Region?The bureaucrats have played theirmoney games at the expense of- the health and well-being of the menand women of the Police in Auckland.- the down-grading of the public’sperception of law and order inAuckland.- ordinary people as victims of crimewho no longer report incidents.They have subversively allowed thedowngrading of law and order inAuckland to justify security firmstaking over more of Policeresponsibilities; so that eventuallyexhausted sworn police officers wereforced to accept civilianisation of manyroles within their region.Three years of persistent andunrelenting pressure has hurt thephysical and mental health of thePolice in the Auckland Region. Analready stressful job has been madeunbearable by this additionalbackground pressure.Health is suffering, morale is suffering,and recruitment is almost impossible.Holiday leave means coming back to ahuge pile of paperwork - coming backduring leave is the only option formany staff.NCO’s and officers cannot meet theirrequirements for staffing nor theirpersonal appraisal requirements due tothe on-going staffing crisis in someareas.Sticking plasters peel off - get to theheart of the problem - treat people aspeople NOT dollars in a budget. Providethe staff, the salary and the resourcesto run the Auckland Region. Policing isa challenging career - but sitting atdesks in Wellington is paper pushing.DON’T reply with figures - unless theyare honest and STOP telling the officersto downplay the crisis, as all it hasdone for three years is create distrust.Try providing LEADERSHIP andDIRECTION.Name Withheld, AucklandWhy do the Swornand Non-swornAssociation feesdiffer?Could you please explain whyAssociation fees for police officers are$16.50 per fortnight while non-sworncivilian staff only pay $10.00.I assume that civilian staff get exactlythe same service and benefit from theAssociation as Police members do.Why the anomaly? Particularly when alarge number of civilian staff are paida higher salary than officers workingon the street.M D Hurst, CHCH CentralAssociation CEO, Chris Pentecostreplies...While all members, sworn andnon-sworn, receive the same servicesand benefits, we do find we are moreregularly involved in specialisedfunctions and services more relevant tosworn members. Legal assistance is agood example. About 95% of allapplications approved are for swornmembers.For this reason, and as non-swornmembers have traditionally earned lessthan sworn members, there has been asubscriptions differential.The role and function of non-swornmembers has changed over the yearsand we agree this differential needs tobe reviewed. This is planned forConference in 2003.‘Honourable” MrShirley?In the November issue of the NZPAPolice News, reference is made to the“Honourable Ken Shirley. Surely, as MrShirley has shown himself to beanything but honourable, this termcould have been left out?I find it offensive that such a personcan make scurrilous accusations andthen still be treated with that kind ofrespect. And please don’t attempt totell me that it is not Mr Shirley but hisposition as an MP that is respected, aspoliticians approach a distant last onthe yearly polls relating to respect fortheir profession. If I recall correctly -used car salesmen fared better in thelast poll!As you indirectly point out, it is personslike him who cause the Police position