By SCOTT INGLIS
Police districts have overspent their budgets by a total of nearly $5 million in the first five months of the financial year.
The worst performers so far are Wellington and North Shore-Waitakere in Auckland, which have each spent more than $1 million more than they were allocated.
Counties-Manukau in South Auckland is third, overspending by $886,000.
Figures showing the financial state of the country's 12 police districts to November 30 have been released by the Police Commissioner's office under the Official Information Act.
The figures are for staff and operating spending and show that the districts have collectively overspent by $4.72 million.
Their release comes after Police Minister George Hawkins expressed anger that the overall police budget was overspent by $20 million.
Commissioner Rob Robinson has also asked Mr Hawkins for money to meet a 3 per cent pay rise for frontline staff, which is expected to increase staff budgets by $16 million.
Across the districts, Wellington has overspent by $1,061,000, with $580,000 of that for staffing.
North Shore-Waitakere is over by $1,003,000, of which $708,000 was for staff.
Other districts which have blown their budgets include Canterbury, at $479,000 over, and Central at $492,000 over budget.
Auckland City district was only $5000 over budget.
Two districts under budget were Tasman, which covers Nelson, and Southern, which covers Dunedin and Invercargill.
Police training costs nationally have ballooned to $796,000 over budget.
The budget problems have resulted in Mr Hawkins putting pressure on the commissioner.
The pair have been negotiating and Mr Robinson has been working with his district commanders on ways to save money, resulting in a number of controversial cuts and proposals.
Auckland police motorway units have been told to park during rush-hour to save on fuel, dozens of officers around the country have been told to return their cellphones, and there are restrictions on the number of samples that can be sent for DNA testing.
Mr Hawkins has questioned why recruits should receive a salary and have their student fees paid while training.
Three recruit intakes have also been put on hold.
Other areas under scrutiny include non-urgent travel, leave and overtime, and casual staff and contractor numbers.
The National Party's police spokesman, Brian Neeson, said there was no doubt some district commanders had not been managing their budgets properly.
But he accused Mr Hawkins of meddling with the commissioner's running of the police force.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor has said the cuts are affecting morale.
"There's almost a despair creeping in out there. Are we here to catch crooks or save money?"
City cops struggle to stay on budget
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