Minister of Police Stuart Nash at the official opening of the Hastings Police Station. Photo / File
Minister of Police Stuart Nash at the official opening of the Hastings Police Station. Photo / File
Hawke's Bay has an extra 32 police on patrol after 88 quit the region in the past two years, but 120 arrived.
A concerted effort to boost numbers has seen 120 new recruits brought into the region since the Labour-led coalition gained power in 2017, a net gain of 32officers, figures released to Hawke's Bay Today under the Official Information Act show.
Minister of Police Stuart Nash said he is "really proud" that the Eastern District, including Hawke's Bay, has seen a "big influx" of new constables.
But the downside has been a big loss in experience and local knowledge, Tukituki National MP Lawrence Yule says.
Casual staff and staff on leave without pay, or parental leave, were not included in the numbers. Authorised officers and temporary sworn staff were included in the total count.
Nash said there were 488 full time police officers in the Eastern District, an increase of 51 officers, or around 12 per cent, on the start of the 2017/18 financial year.
"Eventually there will be 114 extra officers in Eastern, over and above those who leave, as part of our rollout of extra police announced in Budget 2018. It will be a 27 per cent increase," Nash said.
Nash said the decision on where to use the extra resources given to the district was down to Eastern District Commander Tania Kura.
Constable Stephanie Hellyer in her first week on the job raised the flag on the new Hastings Police Station. Photo / File
Officers were assigned depending on local needs, Nash said.
"An officer stationed in Napier may end up being dispatched to Wairoa, or vice versa, depending on need. A snapshot of staff at any one time doesn't give a rounded picture of the sort of impact these extra police are making," Nash said.
"I have confidence in the Tania Kura to make the best decisions about how and where to use the extra resources, whether in Hawke's Bay or Tairawhiti."
Yule said the National government added the same number while it was in power from 2010 to 2017, but with an increase in organised crime, 32 was "simply not enough".
"32 is an improvement but a lot of police have left as well, and what you are losing is experience and knowledge," Yule said.
"The force is getting younger," he said.
L-R Commissioner Mike Bush, Minister of Police Stuart Nash, Member for Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Meka Whaitiri and National MP for Tukituki Lawrence Yule opening of the Hastings Police Station. Photo / File
Yule said an increase in gang activity and organised crime meant the net increase needed to be higher in Hawke's Bay.
"We are not getting enough police, a lot more can be done in terms of the likes of organised crime. Is the net increase of 32 enough? I don't think so."
Nash said the region's dedicated Gang Focus Unit "would not have been possible" without the extra police officers.
He said the unit had arrested more than 100 gang members since mid-2019, seized dozens of illegal firearms, more than $250,000 in cash; more than a kilogram of methamphetamine, dozens of vehicles and tens of thousands of dollars in other assets.
Police were also having big successes with methamphetamine busts, Nash said.
"In Eastern District, wastewater analysis shows methamphetamine use per head of population has fallen significantly and is at its lowest level since testing began a year ago."
