Rural Wanganui people are getting the same level of service from police as previously, despite the district no longer having a rural liaison officer, acting Wanganui area commander Inspector Steve Mastrovich says.
Mr Mastrovich been in the job since June, and is also area commander for Ruapehu. He was reacting to Wanganui Rural Community Board members' concerns that rural crime has not had the same level of attention since Constable Allan Spooner left the rural liaison job last year.
At their last meeting, members said Mr Spooner knew the rural road network and was able to catch rustlers. They noted the level of illegal carcass dumping recently and wondered if it was the result of rustling.
They planned to ask police for another dedicated rural police officer.
Mr Mastrovich said anyone who thought police had not carried on the same level of service was wrong.
"Anything that is reported to us is followed up."
He said all police were in effect dedicated rural officers, and crime had reduced in Wanganui, Marton and Waverley according to the latest year-on-year figures.
The North Island's Central police district was the only one in New Zealand to try having rural liaison officers, and five were appointed to various areas about eight years ago.
When Mr Spooner applied for a police job in Waverley last year and got it, the decision was made not to keep the position.
"We are always analysing what we are doing and how we are doing it. We see [the rural liaison officer role] as not providing the best bang for the bucks."
Rural people needed to report crime before it could be followed up, he said.
"If they feel they have been fobbed off they should contact us again and go further up the food chain."
Police could attend meetings of the rural community board, or other groups, to listen to concerns and find out what was happening.