Briefing to the Incoming Minister, August 2002

Briefing to the Incoming Minister
August 2002


Overview

New Zealand Police strives to achieve "Safer Communities Together". Police puts community safety and crime reduction centre-stage, and is focused on delivering on these goals for all New Zealanders.

Working together

Successful policing requires active community support and engagement. Police seeks to forge strong partnerships with central and local agencies, iwi and other groups, as well as other policing agencies. The recently launched Police Strategic Plan to 2006 reinforces the importance of community policing. This choice of policing style seems to align well with the expectations of New Zealanders, reflected in the high levels of trust and confidence Police enjoys from members of the public.

Policing priorities

The key priorities for Police during the year ahead are: reducing crime; increasing community safety; reducing offending and victimisation by Māori and Pacific peoples; and increasing Police capability.

Police also has a series of priorities in particular areas. For example, Police staff are dealing with more young people as both offenders and victims. The government's Youth Offending Strategy offers an inter-sectoral approach to youth offending. Police is also developing it's own Youth Action Plan. Similarly, in the area of road policing, while bringing down the road toll has been a success story (with last year's figure the lowest in nearly 40 years), Police is committed to initiatives in the government's Road Safety Strategy to 2010, and is working hard to improve overall road safety.

Recent high profile homicides and (attempted) kidnappings are a cause for real concern, as are the level of violence that some frontline officers are facing. More generally, increased offending around amphetamine-type stimulants and incidents of gang-related violence are nation-wide problems.

Police is analysing the drivers of violence and developing effective strategies to reduce violent offending. A three-pronged approach is envisaged that aims to create safer homes, safer public places and safer schools. In relation to burglary, major gains have already been achieved, meaning that Police will need to explore and promote new initiatives to bring the burglary rate down from current levels. With regard to organised crime, Police will support the across-government measures in the Crime Reduction Strategy by improving its intelligence capability and data collection, and continuing to be involved in joint planning and operations with other law enforcement agencies.

Transnational crime has the potential to impact on New Zealand in the form of drug and people smuggling, money laundering, cybercrime and terrorism. Co-operation with, and contribution to policing in the Asia-Pacific region and close liaison with law enforcement globally, will be critical to future success in countering these threats and thereby safeguarding New Zealand's national security.

Emerging issues

The Auckland City and Counties-Manukau Districts record a significant proportion of the country's recorded crime. These Districts traditionally experience a higher than average staff turnover and often carry vacancies. The Police Executive, with Ministerial support, must continue to tackle these issues.

Population growth and the changing nature of offending are generating an increasing demand for police services. Police will continue to work to develop ways of investing in community safety and crime reduction - utilising investment models that clearly identify the benefits and costs of policing.

Legislation and policy

Several Bills carried over to the next Parliament, and proposals for new draft Bills, have significant implications for Police. Police will provide separate briefings on these implications before the government's Legislation Programme is finalised. Police also wish to seek the Minister's views on specific policy issues and directions, such as sharpening the focus of police services, setting a clear legislative platform for policing, and developing a more flexible resourcing structure for policing.

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Table of contents

OVERVIEW
STRATEGY
    Key goals
    Key priorities for 2002/03
    How it fits together
PRIORITIES
    Youth
    Road policing
    Violence
    Burglary
    Organised crime
    National security
RELATIONSHIPS
    Inter-agency collaboration and community partnerships
    Australasia and South West Pacific Policing
    Countering transnational crime
    Overseas deployments
CAPABILITY
    Human resources
    Information and technology
LEGISLATION
    Police-led bills
    Other Police-related bills
    Other legislation-related issues
POLICY
    Work programme
    Auckland City and Counties-Manukau policing issues
    Investment in community safety through policing
FINANCE
    Capital
    Operating
GOVERNANCE
    Law
    Conventions
    Practice
    Strengthening and formalising the relationship
STRUCTURE

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