Police wrangle over use of staff in crisis

Youths running wild, torching cars and creating havoc have led to an allegation of a bust-up between a traffic sergeant and his Counties-Manukau station senior.

A source told the Herald the police chain of command broke down during a recent night of "mayhem" in the South Auckland and Meremere areas.

Boy racers allegedly set cars alight, diesel was poured across roads, and youths caused "general mayhem".

The incidents sparked a number of 111 calls to police communications and more calls from officers in the field.

Before long, all general-duties staff were busy attending a variety of fights, and domestic disputes.

But when a duty senior sergeant asked a Strategic Traffic Unit sergeant for help, the officer apparently refused.

He allegedly told the senior sergeant his staff were required for a booze bus operation and could not be spared.

A "very open and easily heard spat ... for all to hear" ensued between the two officers.

The row was broadcast across the police radio channel.

As a last resort, the senior sergeant had to "order" the sergeant to release his staff, but he continued to refuse.

Counties-Manukau police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow said no comment would be made on the incident until more information was available.

Police would require specific details, including names, date and place of the incident.

But she said Counties-Manukau police spent plenty of time on extra duties.

"In the Counties-Manukau police district, we have a policy of when there are times of need, everyone pitches in, regardless of which unit they are working in."

In January, the Highway Patrol spent 70 hours investigating assaults, 207 hours on search and rescue, 12 hours investigating attempted suicide, and 60 hours on vehicle crime.

A further 30 hours were spent investigating burglaries, she said.

But the source said Strategic Traffic Unit staff were judged on the number of tickets - "contacts" - issued and officers were expected to make three contacts an hour.

If unit staff did not meet that quota, it could be looked on as "a performance issue".

As the unit was judged solely on the number of "contacts", attending police jobs that did not result in an infringement being issued were considered lost time.

Police spokesman Jon Neilson said three "contacts" an hour was a department guideline, but not a quota.