Northland police district commander Superintendent Russell Le Prou at Waitangi Treaty Grounds during the Lions official welcome to New Zealand. Photo /Michael Cunningham
Northland police district commander Superintendent Russell Le Prou at Waitangi Treaty Grounds during the Lions official welcome to New Zealand. Photo /Michael Cunningham
A boost in staff numbers may help turn around disappointing staff engagement survey results, says Northland's top police officer, Superintendent Russell Le Prou.
Last month results of the annual New Zealand Police Workplace Survey were released and for the fourth year in a row Northland troops indicated they were nothappy.
The report highlighted areas New Zealand police should focus on improving in Northland and included employee recognition, improved two-way communication, connecting employees with the vision and purpose, and reducing workplace stress.
The survey was carried out before the Government announced Northland was to get 66 more frontline staff over four years.
In Northland 236 staff, or 60 per cent, responded to the survey with nearly 30 per cent of those feeling disengaged, 53.4 per cent were ambivalent and 17.4 per cent were engaged when it came to feeling connected to the New Zealand Police as an organisation.
Mr Le Prou said he acknowledged the results and admitted they were disappointing.
"I would also acknowledge it has been a pretty tough couple of years for staff with some complex gang homicides that have required a large number of staff.
"But the results we have had has led to arrests. You don't get that without a whole lot of work and dedication."
He said the survey was a "conversation starter" and an indicator of what areas required more attention.
"Can we do better? Absolutely."
The announcement of additional staff - 20 for this year - meant staff would be deployed to areas that needed more attention such as methamphetamine related crimes and organised crime. It also meant rural stations like Kaikohe would also be manned 24/7.
Mr Le Prou said Northland was a tough region geographically to police with diverse localities and the time it took to travel to callouts. With more staff there would be a better spread of resources.
A positive of the survey was that while police did not feel engaged with the police as an organisation, staff in Northland were committed to the work they did and their job gave them a sense of achievement.
There was also an improvement in communication in the district and it was considered open and honest.
"The community should feel reassured that Northland staff are highly invested and committed to the work they do," Mr Le Prou said.
