Police station shuts

CLOSED BASE: Ahuriri's first community constable, now retired, Richard Marshall, with current officer Bruce Miller outside the now-closed office.

Ahuriri's community police station is permanently closed.

The closure, confirmed this week, has left the station's inaugural constable shaking his head and also angered the suburb's business association.

Initial cutbacks to the station's operations came in February 2013 when it was announced its current officer, Senior Constable Bruce Miller, would be based primarily at the Napier station.

At that time Hawke's Bay Area Commander Tania Kura said "the Ahuriri Police Station will not be closing," adding Mr Miller would still have a presence in the suburb, but would not be based full-time at the community station.

Yet Eastern District Police confirmed this week that was no longer the case as the office was shutting permanently.

However, Mr Miller said his role of community constable for the Westshore and Ahuriri districts would remain and he would return to those beats as often as he could.

"It's just that I won't have a base here," Mr Miller said.

The then Ahuriri Community Constable's Office opened in August 1990, with Mr Miller the third officer to hold the position, which he did for 10 years.

His predecessor was Robbie Campbell, who also did the job for 10 years, with Richard Marshall the first in the role, for five years.

Mr Marshall called by to have a look at his "old patch" this week and was left shaking his head.

"It's a shame because back then it was all about community-orientated policing and that's how it should still be," he said.

"If you haven't got the people behind you, then you haven't got anything."

He said with Ahuriri expanding, the need for a permanent police office was greater than ever.

"I am a firm believer in community policing and to me this is not a good move."

Amanda Sye, president of the Ahuriri Business Association, said members were disappointed by both the closure and not being consulted about it.

She said she understood the challenges for police budget-wise, but wanted assurances Ahuriri would remain a priority for police.

"Bruce has worked so hard for so many years and done such a great job - so it seems we are being penalised for all the good work he has done."

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Sandra Venables said the closure was part of an initiative to "improve police service" in the Central Napier and Ahuriri areas.

"Senior Constable Bruce Miller has, for the past two years, been covering both the Napier central city and Ahuriri. He has been using the Ahuriri office spasmodically on an as-required basis," Ms Venables said.

"The office lease on the building has now expired and it is not financially viable for police to continue leasing the office, given the small amount of time Senior Constable Miller spends there."

The lease to the office ran out last Monday and Mr Miller was currently packing. During his tenure at Ahuriri, people called daily at his office.

"A lot of people just don't want to go into the main station - they would see my car here and call in and flick me something. " He said the "something" could be a tip-off to an incident or suspicious activity.