Police could charge for extra work

There's been a heavy police presence during the Rugby World Cup, and the Police Association believes such work should involve extra pay. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Police may charge for the extra work they do at events like the Rugby World Cup under new rules being considered by Government.

A spokesman for Police Minister Judith Collins said she was considering cost recovery options for some non-essential policing.

Police association chief executive Greg O'Connor said that should include the work of officers at Rugby World Cup games.

He said that would bring New Zealand into line with rules in place in Britain.

The English Rugby Football Union would be forced to pay for the extra security they needed at games for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, he said.

"We are one of the very few countries in the world who does not do this.

"In the current fiscal environment where policing budgets are frozen - and that means they're actually going backwards - we have to look at these things."

Mr O'Connor said police budgets were already under pressure without the extra cost of providing security at large commercial events.

They should be reimbursed for expenses they incurred at those events to help them keep crime rates declining, he said.

"When we police these events, there will be a reduction in other services to the public.

"What we fear is the gains we've made in policing will be lost."