However, he explained recruitment was a long game, given the process to become a police officer included six months of police college followed by a 2-year probationary period.
He said across Eastern District, which covers Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, there were about 650 police staff.
That includes more than 500 sworn police officers.
“The team here are doing really good work, and I want to make sure that work continues, and I can bring another perspective.”
He acknowledged a spike in homicides in the district in recent months, and said prioritising staff was important.
“Detectives fill a really important role but also, likewise, our ability to stop stuff happening before [it happens] fills an important role.
“So, there is always that blend of where do we put our weighting?
“We have our numbers, and we can surge and change, but what we need to do is make sure we get that balance right.
“That balance sometimes needs to shift [at a given time].”
Lamb’s office is at Hastings Police Station, but he plans to base himself across the district.
He will head north to Tairāwhiti within the next couple of weeks, including a visit to storm-stricken Te Araroa.
“I want to get up there and make sure I meet the people first hand, so I can understand what they have faced and look at where we can help.”
Lamb said other priorities in the role included engaging well with iwi.
Growing up, Lamb used to travel to Mahia to surf, and said he loved the East Coast.
