The Commissioner of Police has set up an external panel to review Police handling of emergency calls and other calls for service through the communications centres
Commissioner Robinson says the review was prompted by issues relating to Police response to 111 calls, including, but not exclusively, the recent Piha call by missing Auckland woman Iraena Asher.
Mr Robinson said that there had been other complaints about the 111 service and the need for the review took into consideration other cases over the last twelve months.
"The Communication Centres receive 1.6 million calls a year. The vast majority of those calls are dealt with to everyone’s satisfaction. But it only takes a couple of serious service lapses to shake confidence both internally and externally. We set high expectations for ourselves in this mission critical part of our service. It is time for a comprehensive health check on the system.
Mr Robinson says he has approached several overseas Police agencies to provide input into the review panel. They will be asked to look at the broad issues of Police Communication Centres emergency response, including call management, policies and procedures, and interactions between call centres and districts.
The review panel will be chaired by New South Wales Police Superintendent Michael Corboy who is responsible for Police communications for New South Wales. Superintendent Corboy has responsibility for six communications centres and over 600 staff. He has a wide range of operational command experience.
Superintendent Corboy will be supported by two other overseas officers, most likely from Canada and the United Kingdom, and a New Zealand based consultant.
"An external project team will work for the review panel.
"I have commissioned the review to provide an independent assessment of our current practice and performance around emergency response and call management.
"I want to be assured that our communication centres are working as well as they can so I can in turn provide assurance to the public.
This review will help identify areas where we can improve and reinforce current areas of best practice," Mr Robinson says.
The time frame for the review panel to report back will be determined by the panel members in consultation with the Commissioner after the panel has considered terms of reference.