Canterbury farmers and Police Association slam proposed rural policing cuts

Earlier this month, NZ Police announced that it plans to restructure the police service in Canterbury.

This includes a plan to disestablish the 14 rural policing positions in the region.

If NZ Police were to go ahead with the proposal, the Arthurs Pass, Lincoln, Leeston, Culverden, Oxford, and Amberley local police constables would see their roles disestablished in favour of centralised rural liaison and public safety officers.

The proposed changes would also see the Canterbury Rural School Community Officer position disestablished as well as the Rural Family Harm Constable position.

Three Rural Strategic Traffic Unit Constable and two Rural Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) investigator positions would be established.

The reasoning behind the disestablishments – according to the proposal document – is that there is insufficient demand for those officer roles, something New Zealand Police Association president Chris Cahill disagrees with.

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“The problem is that measuring demand simply by calls for service alone can fail to recognise how many rural communities work,” Cahill told Rural News.

He says that many people in rural communities prefer direct contact with their local officer, adding that much crime in those communities is oftentimes not reported until the victim encounters their local officer.

“There has also been a tendency, due to frustrations with the 105-reporting line, to not report smaller crime especially if victims don’t feel police will be able to attend or investigate.”

Cahill says that communities value having an officer that they know is dedicated to their community and who can take the time to address concerns that are particularly to that community.

“The ‘feel safe’ factor of a local officer should not be underestimated,” he adds. “Police have many competing demands, and the problems of rural communities will not always be the priority if resources are not dedicated to that rural community.”

Nicola Eccleton, interim chief executive of Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ), says her organisation is concerned by the proposals and has written to Minister of Police Mark Mitchell outlining those concerns.

Eccleton says that RWNZ members in the impacted regions say the proposals could impact important aspects of rural community policing, including timely emergency responses; on-the-ground-community policing; visibility and deterrence; and the protection and support of women and children experiencing family violence.

“Rural communities already face a deficit in access to emergency services,” Eccleton told Rural News. “Further reducing the local policing presence risks deepening this.”

She says the proposal seems short-sighted, adding that while crime statistics in rural areas may reflect a low incident rate, which suggests that the approach local officers are taking works.

“The community tells us they would rather a preventative and proactive approach, a fence at the top of the cliff rather than an ambulance at the bottom.”