Election panel: Should getting more police be a priority?

Rotorua Daily Post election panel. Brett Wilson, Heather Keefe, Ngaa Ruuira Puumanawawhiti, Russell Hallam, Theresa McLean, and Fraser Newman.

We asked our Rotorua election panel whether they think getting more police for Rotorua should be a priority for local election candidates?

Russell Hallam.

Name:

Russell Hallam

Age:

72

Occupation:

Retired school principal

The growth of the police numbers in our district will be beneficial, but it is not the simple solution to ensure we have a safe community for us all to live, work and play in. We need to ask where these numbers will be employed within the police force. How this added resource will reduce the level of crimes committed, prevent crime, and address the recidivism rates of criminality. I think getting more police resources, including more police, for Rotorua, should be a priority for local candidates, with the greater aim of providing for safe communities within our district.

Theresa McLean.

Name:

Theresa McLean

Age:

18:

Occupation:

Student

I think that while having more police is always good, there are more pressing jobs to fill like those in the mental health sector. I think that if we address root causes first, there will be less need for police officers.

Fraser Newman.

Name:

Fraser Newman

Age:

31

Occupation:

Bookshop owner

Absolutely more police for Rotorua should be a priority. We have a real deep-rooted crime problem in Rotorua. My wife was mugged in the CBD with people watching. We're also in business and suffer repeat breaches of trespass. This must stop. But it isn't just about more police. Every party now promises more. We need a better justice system to back them up. There's no point arresting people if they're back out on the street the next day offending. We need a good balance of prevention, rehabilitation and iron-fisted aggression in rooting out criminal elements in this city.

Ngaa Rauuira Puumanawawhiti.

Name:

Ngaa Ruuira Puumanawawhiti

Age:

23

Occupation:

Cultural market manager, New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute

Perhaps as a temporary measure if the local community and police are calling for this kind of assistance. The long-game however, is social investment into social cohesion so that families who are the building blocks of our communities are better able to police and manage their own neighbourhood affairs and have the resources and relationships with police and local council to do so. To that end, a Whanau Ora approach is advised. The power of whanau should be called upon in the first instance with a view of eventually fading out the role of the police altogether.

Brett Wilson.

Name:

Brett Wilson

Age:

52

Occupation:

Watchdog Security chief executive officer

Absolutely. Recently announced increases in police numbers have extra staff allocated to areas that focus on burglary, organised crime etc, which is needed. However frontline staff are still often thin on the ground. Rotorua has ongoing problems with things like domestic violence and this can quickly eat up the resources of the PST units. We interact with the police a lot in our business and there are many occasions where we are told, sorry we don't have any available units. That's not a criticism of the police, it is a political problem as ultimately the politicians decide the resources.

Heather Keefe.

Name:

Heather Keefe

Age:

40s

Occupation:

Accountant

Societal issues are not the responsibility of Police who are the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Increased effort is needed by combined social sector agencies, working closer together and partnering with each other. Police should take a lead role as they face the consequences of all of our societies failures. Increasing Police numbers may have short term positive outcomes?. Long term solutions must come from within our community. There needs to be a strong desire with , sustained effort to effect the changes that are required to make Rotorua an even better place to live. Focus on the big picture.