Report of the New Zealand Police
for the year ended 30 June 2000
Presented to the House of Representatives Pursuant to Section 39 of the Public Finance Act 1989.
Commissioner's overview
The New Zealand Police achieved a number of significant
milestones in 1999/00.
Most importantly, New Zealand's hosting of APEC saw the
delivery of the largest national security operation ever
undertaken by the New Zealand Police.
Furthermore, as New Zealand and the world readied to
celebrate the new Millennium, police too swung into action.
Around the nation, officers and support staff put into effect the considerable planning
required to ensure we were ready and able to deal with the operational and
organisational Y2K issues surrounding the event.
These major events, together with the America's Cup campaign, combined to make it
an extraordinarily busy year for operational staff.
In addition to these operational activities was the vast internal effort required to
implement the recommendations of the Review into Management Systems and
Structures.
The Review came to an end on 13th March 2000, at a stage where the major benefits
had been obtained in terms of district restructuring and the streamlining of
management positions.
The repudiation of the INCIS contract resulted in the cessation of further work on
second and subsequent increments and a thorough examination of the way ahead for
Police information technology.
Despite these challenges, the fact that outstanding operational performance results
were still achieved is testimony to the calibre of our staff - sworn and non-sworn.
As I travel about New Zealand I am constantly re-energised by the enthusiasm and
commitment of police staff working towards our vision of Safer Communities
Together.
KEY RESULTS
- Total recorded offending dropped 5.1% and clearances of these offences also
improved to 40.4%;
- Burglaries have dropped by 8.5% or 6,685 recorded offences, compared to the
previous year and recorded dwelling burglary dropped 12.4%.
- Recorded violent offences have stabilised. Within this category of offending
robbery and sexual attacks have decreased;
- There has been an increase in investigative activity and prosecutions on more
serious drug offending, with clearances exceeding 92% in this category;
- Unlawful taking of vehicles has dropped 4,857 offences or 17%. Equally
impressive is the drop in recorded thefts from vehicles, down 9,358 offences or
16.5%;
- The 1999/00 fiscal year saw a drop in the road toll to 492 from 513 the previous
year. This decrease has been achieved in an environment of increasing road usage;
- Complaints against police remain low with only 159 complaints upheld. This
against a backdrop of more than one and a half million recorded crime, incident and
traffic related contacts with the public;
- Public satisfaction with Police services remains high at 74%.
POLICE RESOURCES
In some respects these excellent results have been overshadowed by events surrounding
the Review and INCIS. Nevertheless, the decision to halt these projects provided the
opportunity to begin the new century without the time-consuming issues that
surrounded them.
During the year 80 additional non-sworn staff were added to the organisation's
strength. Sworn staff numbers rose to 6,980 from 6,876, an increase of 104 frontline
officers. Staff numbers are due to increase further during 2000/01 with an additional
263 sworn staff approved by Government for initiatives focusing on highway patrol
duties, burglary and youth crime.
As well as these additional staff we have been able to provide enhanced support to
frontline staff. Some examples of this include:
- Completing a baseline review of the New Zealand Road Safety Plan identifying the
additional resources required to delivery Road Safety Targets. These resources will
come on stream during 2000/01;
- Expanding the Police Infringement Bureau capability to handle liquor infringement
notices;
- Outsourcing some Police training to provide a more responsive and cost- effective
training service after graduation from the Royal New Zealand Police College;
- Establishing a national management group to coordinate and oversee the continued
strategic development of the three Communication Centres;
- Communications support for APEC and the America's Cup regatta;
- Replacing the Police internal telephone network;
- Replacing the fingerprint system (AFIS);
- Delivering 18 technology projects associated with Y2K preparedness;
- Introducing expandible batons.
MAJOR OPERATIONS
Perhaps the most significant planned operational event for Police during the 1999/00
year was the management of APEC security and the three subsequent State Visits by the
Presidents of the United States of America, China and South Korea. More than
300,000 hours of officer time were delivered, providing both specialist personal security
and general building, route and crowd security. On a lesser scale, but still considerable
by New Zealand standards, was the security provided to the America's Cup campaign.
For this operation 160,000 hours of police time were provided across a diverse range of
activities - from water borne crowd control and security to alcohol breath testing at
boat ramps.
The year would not be complete without reference to the massive effort required for the
policing of Millennium events and internal Y2K business continuity planning. The shift
covering the beginning of the New Year involved nearly all police officers, many of
them working away from friends and family. The detailed planning and extensive
deployments played a significant part in making these events trouble free.
It must also be acknowledged that the effort of New Zealand Police officers has not
been restricted to the domestic environment.
During the year 30 officers took part in United Nations deployments to East Timor. In
the civil unrest around the independence referendum in East Timor these officers acted
with distinction and were a credit to their families, the organisation and the country.
Four members of this team were recognised with New Zealand Honours Awards, with
the remainder receiving Commissioner's Merit Awards.
The death of Steven Wallace in McLean Street, Waitara, on 30 April 2000 was a tragic
event for all involved. It underscored the unpredictable nature of Police work and the
dangers and difficulties involved. I again extend my condolences to Steven's whanau.
Understandably, emotions ran high in the aftermath. It was testimony to the
professionalism of the Police involved that they did not enter the public debate and
instead let due process take its course.
While I have highlighted major national operations, it is important to record my sincere
thanks to all staff who contributed to operations both large and small, here and
offshore. Their continued professionalism and dedication, in often difficult
circumstances, clearly helped produce successful outcomes. I must also acknowledge
the support of their partners, families and friends who supported them during the year.
I believe all of us would understand and agree that without strong support from home
our ability to undertake such duties would be severely compromised.
MĀORI RESPONSIVENESS
The continuation of building partnerships with Māori and inclusion of the Māori
perspective in policy and decision making made good progress during the year. I am
mindful though of the considerable amount of work still to be achieved in this area and
I will maintain a personal overview of progress.
Key to this process is the input from the special advisers appointed to District Māori
Advisory Groups and the Commissioner's Māori Focus Forum. I look forward to
working with these advisers during 2000/01 to further enhance leadership coordination
between Māori and police. The Iwi Liaison Officer numbers have been boosted by a
further 14 appointments this year. Their role in district responsiveness issues is building
strong partnerships with Iwi and Māori.
Adding further impetus to these initiatives is the introduction of the 'Closing the Gaps'
programme. This has ensured we continue to work closely with other agencies to
collectively achieve positive economic, social and cultural outcomes with Māori and
Pacific Island peoples.
PARTNERSHIPS
I believe the partnerships we build within the community are a key factor in
successfully delivering policing services. These partnerships are the common
denominator in many of our innovative and successful programmes throughout the
country. The range and diversity of groups that police interact with at national and
local level is both staggering and heartening.
Our ability to maintain these partnerships and foster new ones is of utmost importance
as we move to meet the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technologies and
seemingly more complex social issues.
FUTURE PERFORMANCE
A significant performance step was taken in the last year with the establishment of
crime reduction targets. In all three areas where crime reduction targets were set,
namely, violent crime, dwelling burglary and motor vehicle crime, the established target
was achieved.
I have been so encouraged by these results that the targets in these areas for the 2000/01
year will continue to challenge us all.
As well as seeking improvements in these crime reduction target areas I have set a
further target for 2000/01 to improve the resolution rate of burglary.
While the Statement of Service Performance within this Annual Report details a wide
range of performance measures, police will ultimately be judged on our capability to
provide an effective response to calls for service and our ability to solve reported crime.
The overall strategic philosophy that we operate within is one of Community Policing.
This approach is as much about preventing crime occurring in the first place as it is
about any subsequent activity. To achieve this we must continue to ensure the results
expected by the public are maintained while continuing to implement strategies and
programmes that seek to drive crime down. The Police strategic approach to reducing
crime and the road toll is based on themes of law enforcement and investigation, wise
use of our intelligence systems, and more focused crime prevention and problem solving
in partnership with the community and other agencies.
The achievement of positive outcomes in the 1999/00 year shows this strategic
approach is working. With this knowledge, I want to have a stable organisation in the
2000/01 year which will provide a strong platform for the safety results both police and
the community wish to achieve.
This will involve cementing in place the significant gains made in crime and road toll
reductions over the last few years, and focusing on those key crime areas and our
partnerships which reaffirm 'Safer Communities Together'.
Rob Robinson
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
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Table of contents
Linkages of Police Delivery to Government Outcomes
Commissioner's Overview
Information Required by Statute
Achievement of Key Result Areas
Statement of Objectives and Service Performance
Financial Information
Additional Financial Information
Organisational Information
Appendices:
A Summary of Recorded Crime
B Summary of Recorded Traffic Offences and Infringements
C Summary of Recorded Incidents
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