time to lower the BAC limit - New Zealand Police Association

Transcription

The Voice of Police
VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 5 • june 2010
NZ’s drink driving problem
- time to lower the BAC limit
n Cabinet to decide on lowering blood alcohol limit
n What you should know about your leave entitlements
n The 10 key features of organised crime
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
The Voice of Police
VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 5 • june 2010
NZ Police Association Police News is the magazine of
the New Zealand Police Association and incorporates the
New Zealand Police Journal first published in 1937.
June 2010, Vol. 43, No.5
ISSN 1175-9445
Deadline for next issue Monday, June 14, 2010.
Published by the New Zealand Police Association
P.O. Box 12344, Willbank House, 57 Willis Street, Wellington.
Phone: (04) 496 6800, Facsmile: (04) 471 1309
Editor: Steve Plowman
Email: [email protected]
118
Ila shows she’s fighting fit
Website: www.policeassn.org.nz
Printed by City Print Communications, Wellington.
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the
Association.
COPYRIGHT: NZPA Police News must not be reproduced in
part or as a whole without the formal consent of the copyright
holder – the New Zealand Police Association.
Contents
From the President
Attacks highlight the need for added protection
Holiday home availability chart
Ila and Turk share the honours at National Police Dog Champs
Turangi holiday home unit extensively damaged by fire
120
fit for duty
A day in the life of a NZ Police Physical Education Officer
• Front page: NO BRAINER: The public and police officers
are on the same page on this one – they want to see the blood
alcohol limit lowered. Cabinet is due to make a decision on
lowering the limit from 80 mgs per 100 ml to 50 mgs per 100 mls shortly. Police have been lobbying successive
governments for some time on this issue, saying that overseas
experience shows such a move could save 14 lives and prevent
260 serious injuries per year. It seems like a no brainer but for
some reason it has failed to get past the politicians previously.
Will this latest attempt by Police meet with success? See page 126.
- Photo courtesy of Istockphoto.com and Feverpitch Photography.
114
June 2010
117
118/9
119
120/1
121
What you should know about your leave entitlements
122
Police Association welcomes IPCA child abuse report
123
Pahiatua police officer takes part in hair-raising event
123
Wairoa cops muck in to restore police graves
124
Longest-serving Association staff member to leave in mid-June
125
Majority of police officers favour lowering the blood alcohol limit
Fitting work in Wairoa
116/7
Brain teaser
Reducing blood alcohol limits part of greater plan
124
115
126/9
129
Lifting the lid on organised crime (Part 2)
130/3
Obituary: Jack Craig (Life Member)
134/5
Plaque to honour Len Snee unveiled in Napier
135
View from the bottom/Copper’s crossword
136
Association hosts Office Holders’ Took Kit Course
137
Memorial wall/Useful information and contacts list
137
Spicers financial advice
138/9
Sports News
140/4
Keen on wine
145
Letters to the Editor
146
Westport job offer/vacancies
147
Association welcomes IPCA report
into handling of child abuse – p123
New Zealand Police Association
decisions to be made by those with a
global view, and with experience and
information not available to those closer
to the action.
“Notwithstanding that some aspects of the pursuit
did breach policy, the criticism of the officers
for ‘beginning’ the pursuit of a speeding driver,
in the first place, is the sort of thing that leaves
frontliners shaking their heads.”
Okay, it’s only a TV show and every
administrator I know does his or her
best.
Getting to Mr Big
I recently watched an excellent American
Police drama called ‘The Wire’.
met with cynicism by those trying to get
the job done.
It’s set in the US city of Baltimore and is
about a group of cops who want to go
after some bigger criminals than usual
in order to dent the local drug and
murder crime rates.
A very good example is a recent
Independent Police Conduct Authority
(IPCA) report criticising two police
officers for ‘instigating’ a pursuit of what
turned out to be a stolen car, which
then crashed and injured an innocent
person.
They are hampered by politics,
bureaucracy and a system requiring
statistics be delivered in the required
categories. Anything they achieve is very
much in spite of the administrators, not
because of them.
Many cop and latterly hospital shows
have a similar theme. I often wonder
what administrators and bureaucrats
think when they see themselves parodied
in such roles, and their reaction to how
the policies and demands they make are
The advice I give to those making
important decisions, which will clearly
impact on operational policing, is to
imagine they were watching themselves
on screen making and justifying what
they were doing. Call it another layer of
audit perhaps!
Notwithstanding that some aspects
of the pursuit did breach policy, the
criticism of the officers for ‘beginning’
the pursuit of a speeding driver, in the
first place, is the sort of thing that leaves
frontliners shaking their heads.
However, imagining a camera and
microphone transmitting to the
sergeant’s or detective sergeant’s office,
while some high level discussions are
taking place in and out of Police, might
just help everyone focus.
In a parallel with the plot of the show I
am referring to, I wonder if just being
happy arresting the offenders for the
large number of gang and drug related
homicides we are having, without a
strategy to disrupt the top players in
both areas, means nothing
will improve in the
near future.
So we only police honest drivers who
stop when requested?
Obviously, there are always high-level
Six officers receive Honours from Governor-General
• Six current or former police officers were honoured at a Queen’s Honours ceremony attended by Commissioner Howard Broad and Assistant
Commissioner Jon White recently. Pictured from left were: Sergeant David Stone QSM, Waikanae; Senior Sergeant Gaylene Rogers QSM,
Auckland; Assistant Commissioner Jon White; James McDonough QSM, Upper Hutt; Lady Susan Satyanand; Senior Constable Robert Filbee
QSM, Palmerston North; Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand; Commissioner Howard Broad; Detective Superintendent Michael
Pannett MNZM, Wellington; and Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward QSM, New Plymouth.
June 2010
115
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Attacks highlight the need for added protection
By Deb Stringer, Communications Assistant
A recent attack on two police officers in Mangere continues to
highlight the need for added protection for police.
Sergeant Vernon Woolf was one of the officers called to the
scene where two constables were set upon by a pack of up to
15 youths armed with large pieces of wood.
The highly intoxicated youths were seeking revenge on the
two officers after being told to leave a park.
No regard for the law
Constable Andrew Warne said the incident had begun after
he and Constable Sesilani Osa had come across the youths
in Rushmore Reserve. After discovering the youths were
intoxicated, the two officers identified themselves as police
officers and asked them to leave the park.
“We were in plainclothes but we made sure we identified
ourselves, so they definitely knew who we were,” Mr Warne
said.
“The group were definitely not happy
about leaving, however, did eventually
leave the park.”
“It’s becoming more and more common, so a move towards
making Tasers and firearms more accessible is definitely
something which I support,” Mr Warne said.
“Having that extra protection there when we need it would
provide us with a welcome element of safety, especially as I
can’t see these types of incidents simmering down anytime
soon,” Mr Woolf said.
Tough work
Mr Woolf and Mr Warne both work on Section 4 in Otahuhu,
a division that has seen its fair share of casualties within the
past few months. Police News understands that several Section
4 officers have been injured in incidents in the last six months.
The worst incident came when Constable Jeremy Snow was
extremely lucky to survive after being shot four times when
on a routine patrol late last year.
Mr Snow is understood to still be receiving medical treatment
for the serious injuries he sustained. Despite his keenness to
return to duty on Section 4 it is not
known when he will be able to do so.
“We didn’t have any time to think,
we just had to act. Luckily, none
of us were seriously injured,
considering there were four of us
and about 15 of them.”
However, assaults on police are not
confined to Otahuhu as is evidenced
by the fact that last month, three
After the incident, Mr Warne called
young, unarmed constables bravely
Mr Woolf and his partner to the scene,
disarmed an Auckland bar patron,
as a precautionary step.
who appeared to be affected by drugs,
during a routine licensing check. The
Round two
- Constable Andrew Warne.
man, who had brandished a pistol,
Minutes after Mr Woolf and his
was allegedly found with $10,000
partner were called to the scene, the
and a large amount of P after being
pack of youths started rushing towards the officers with pieces
subdued by the officers in an ensuing struggle.
of wood, which had nails protruding from them.
Big increases
“We didn’t have any time to think, we just had to act. Luckily,
The number of assaults on police has jumped more than
none of us were seriously injured, considering there were four
25% in the last 10 years. The number of serious assaults has
of us and about15 of them, ” Mr Warne said.
increased from 216 in 1999 to 412 last year – a jump of 90.7%.
“We managed to restrain a couple of them but it wasn’t the
These latest incidents follow a spate of attacks on police, one
pepper spray that managed to subdue them, as it took quite a
of which left a constable unconscious after being viciously
while for this to take effect,” he said. It was only the officers’
attacked while attending a domestic incident in Ngaruawahia.
own efforts that allowed an arrest to be effected.
The officer attended the incident alone because two colleagues
“It’s times like these when you really could do with access to a
from Huntly were attending a domestic incident in Te Kauwhata.
Taser or firearm, as you really don’t know how the situation is
The officer was waiting for a dog handler to arrive when he
going to go,” he added.
was set upon after going to the aid of a woman who was being
No respect
attacked. He struck his head on the kerb and was left bleeding
and unconscious after being knocked to the ground. A woman
Mr Woolf said part of the problem these days was that people
in the group then called police on the officer’s patrol car radio.
just did not show the same respect for Police as they once did.
“Back in the day, the uniform used to be enough of a deterrent,
but these days that’s just not the case,” he said.
Mr Warne said that there was a propensity for offenders to
launch into attacks on police officers in order to show their
peers that they were unafraid of the law.
“Sadly for some it seems like it is something to aspire to,” he
said.
More commonplace
In recent months, Mr Warne and Mr Woolf have both found
themselves attending more incidents where this attitude was
prevalent.
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June 2010
Growing trend
Police Association President Greg O’Connor said these
incidents highlighted a growing trend amongst offenders who
had “no fear of the consequences in confronting police”.
“Now we’ve got a generation of youths growing up that think
the police can’t touch them. We’re seeing more and more
people refusing to stop when driving when requested to do
so and it’s that same attitude that is seeing people attacking
police officers,” he said.
Cabinet is soon to consider a proposal by Justice Minister
Simon Power to increase the penalties for serious attacks on
police.
Ensuring respect for the law
Mr O’Connor said that there needed to be
consideration for extending the penalties
to the lower end of the spectrum too for offences like threatening or abusing
officers. “In this way people will learn
about respect for the law and that they
face consequences if they choose to
ignore it,” Mr O’Connor said.
He said the Ngaruawahia incident
“highlighted the realities of officers
policing alone where a reliance on
specialist backup to ‘sort it out’ was not
an option and an immediate response
was required from the officer.”
Mr O’Connor said that the incidents
recently were a reflection of not only
the officers’ individual bravery but also
what the public expected from their
police. “But it is unreasonable to expect
police to continue to do so without an
effective means of defending themselves
and others,” Mr O’Connor said. “In
these latest incidents luck was on our
side but we all know that there are times
when that may not be the case and it
is an imperative that we do as much
as possible to give police officers the
right tools to do their job effectively,”
he added.
June
Norwegian lockbox model favoured
“The Police Association has looked
extensively all around the world for
firearm accessibility models suitable
for the New Zealand environment. We
believe the Norwegian model, where
every patrol car has a pistol in a lockbox
in the centre console, is clearly the
most appropriate. Had the officer in
Ngaruawahia been able to draw a firearm
or Taser and arm himself before exiting
the vehicle and confronting the offender,
it is extremely unlikely he would have
been assaulted and injured as he went to
the aid of the victim. Most importantly,
the offender would almost certainly have
acted differently – a fact often forgotten
in the arming debate.
“Once upon a time, the blue uniform
itself would provide a layer of relative
safety. As these incidents show, those
days are gone. It is frankly naïve to
cling to a belief that violent offenders
will simply drop their fists, or another
weapon, and defer to authority.
“Assaults on police are assaults on the
coercive arm of the law and therefore
society itself,” Mr O’Connor added.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad has
indicated that he is looking at making it
easier for officers to access firearms.
July
Child witness report
welcomed by
Justice Minister
Justice Minister Simon Power has
welcomed the report ‘Child Witnesses
in the New Zealand Criminal Courts’,
launched recently by Auckland University
of Technology’s Institute of Public Policy.
Mr Power said he would be “seriously
considering” the report’s findings.
The report examines the treatment of
child witnesses in criminal courts and how
police and court processes may impact on
the quality of children’s evidence.
Mr Power said Ministry of Justice officials
would work with other government
agencies to develop best-practice
guidelines that ensure children receive
the best possible care. They will also look
at ways of increasing participation in the
Court Education for Young Witnesses
programme.
Mr Power said he was keen to see
how overseas jurisdictions treat child
witnesses, particularly during questioning,
forensic interviewing, and pre-recorded
videotaping of evidence.
August
PAIHIA............................................ 7-10,27-30.....................................................1,18-22,29-31..........................................................1-6,8-12,15-31
STANMORE BAY.............................. 7-11,16-18,20-30..........................................1-2,12,15,17-31.......................................................1-31
AUCKLAND..................................... 14-16,27........................................................1,18-19,23,27..........................................................1,3,8,15,18,26
WAIHEKE ISLAND............................ 14-16,21-24,28-30........................................1,4,19-22,25-26.......................................................1-5,7-12,15-19,22-26,29-31
WHANGAMATA................................ 7-10,13,16-17,20-24,27-30...........................1-2,18-31.................................................................1-27,29-31
MT MAUNGANUI............................. 7-10,16-17,20-24,27-30................................1,19-22,25-29..........................................................1-5,15-19,22-26,29-31
OHOPE............................................ 7-17,20-25,27-30..........................................1,4,17-31.................................................................1-5,8-28
ROTORUA....................................... 8,13-17,21-24,27-28,30................................2,18,22-23,25-28.....................................................1-5,8-12,15-19,22-24,29-31
TAUPO............................................ 6-9,19,27.......................................................2,8,19-21,25-28.......................................................2-5,8-12,15-19,23-26,30-31
TURANGI......................................... 12,16-17,20-21,27.........................................Winter ballot.............................................................Winter ballot
NAPIER........................................... 7,9,13-18,20-21,24,27-30.............................1-2,7,18-22,25-29...................................................2-5,7-12,15-19,22-26,29-31
PARAPARAUMU............................... 11,13-17,20-23,28-30...................................1,16-22,26-29..........................................................1,8-12,16-19
GREYTOWN..................................... 7-8,10,13-17,20-24,28-30.............................1,7-8,18-23,25-29...................................................1-5,8-12,16-19,22-26,29-31
WELLINGTON.................................. 7-8,14-17,20-24............................................5,21,23,26-29..........................................................2-5,9-12,15-17,22-26,29-30
NELSON.......................................... 7-10,13-16,20-30..........................................1,6-7,14-21,25-27...................................................2-7,9-11,13-27
HANMER SPRINGS.......................... 29-30.............................................................Fully booked.............................................................3-4,22
CHRISTCHURCH.............................. 6-8,16,21-22,28.............................................4-7,10,13,15,17-21,26,28........................................1-2,4,8,15-17,23-27,31
AKAROA.......................................... 9-10,13-16,20-23,29-30................................1,4,19-20,22,25,29..................................................1-5,8-12,15-19,22-26,29-31
TEKAPO.......................................... 7-8.................................................................Winter ballot.............................................................Winter ballot
WANAKA......................................... 8,10,13-19,26-30...........................................1-2...........................................................................Winter ballot
CROMWELL.................................... 7-10,13-16,21-24..........................................4-9...........................................................................2,5-6,13-15,19-31
QUEENSTOWN................................ 14-15,17........................................................Winter ballot.............................................................Winter ballot
TE ANAU......................................... 6-18,20-27,30................................................1-2,8,11,13-31.........................................................1-31
DUNEDIN........................................ 7-10,13-14,21-24,29-30................................1-2,18-22,26............................................................1-5,8-12,15-19,22-27,29
June 2010
117
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Ila and Turk share the honours at National
Police Patrol Dog Championships
By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News
The National Police Patrol Dog Championship has, for the first
time its 43-year history, resulted in a tie between defending
champion Ila and Turk and their respective handlers Senior
Constable Jason Todd (Wellington) and Constable Logan
Marsh (Tauranga). They share the Frank Riley Championship
Cup.
Turk and Constable Marsh were first time entrants.
Eleven Police patrol teams from around the country qualified
at regional competitions for the three-day competition. Five
narcotic dog teams from Police, Customs and Corrections, and
five explosives dog teams from Police, Customs and Aviation
Security joined them.
High quality of competition
Inspector Brendon Gibson, national co-ordinator of police
dogs, said very little separated the top dog teams across all
disciplines and all categories.
“It’s always difficult to predict who wins on the day but
consistency and teamwork are essential,” he said.
Senior Constable Todd said he was very pleased with Ila’s
comeback effort. There had been some doubt as to whether
she would be able to compete after being slashed across the
nose with a knife in an operational incident just three weeks
before the champs.
• BATTLE SCARS: Stitches were evident on the bridge of the nose of
reigning Police patrol dog national champion, Ila, as she was put
through her paces by her handler Senior Constable Jason Todd at
this year’s championships. Ila and Jason deadheated with Turk and
Constable Logan Marsh to share the title.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Stent/The Sunday Star-Times.
“It’s great to bounce back like this and for her to perform to
the level I know she’s capable of,” he said. Senior Constable
Todd said he had been feeling the pressure of being defending
champions leading into the event and that it was “great that
we’ve pulled this off.”
Breeding programme
Five-year-old Ila and four-year-old Turk are both products of
the national police dog breeding programme, which is run out
of the New Zealand Police Training Centre at Trentham.
Constable Marsh said he was “blown away by the win”,
especially since it was their first time at the nationals. “I
am absolutely stoked,” he told Police News. He said Turk
had been really sick with a chronic neuromuscular disease
called myasthenia gravis, which renders the muscles useless.
Constable Marsh has had to inject Turk several times a day
to keep the dog alive at various times over the last year. “At
his worst he was not able to walk for more than 20 seconds
without collapsing on the ground, coming very close to death
twice,” he said.
Turk had only been back working properly about eight weeks.
“So this is just the icing on the cake. He’s still not a 100%
cured but all the hard work seems bloody worthwhile now,”
he added.
The nationals turned out to be a bit of a family affair for
Turk. His brother Tank and his father Reiker competed as
well. “Maybe it was the family support that got him through,”
Constable Marsh joked.
Constable Marsh and Turk had a second win at the champs
118
June 2010
• MIRACLE DOG: Turk, co-winner of the National Police Patrol
Dog Championship, with his handler, Constable Logan Marsh of
Tauranga. Turk’s performance was extraordinary in that he came
back from a serious muscular disease to share the honours.
- Photo courtesy of the Bay of Plenty Police Forensic Photography.
when they captured the Williams Rose
Bowl for criminal work and building
search disciplines.
Category winners
Championship winners in the other
categories were:
Butch takes third
Third place went to Senior Constable
Grant Egan and his dog Butch
(Whangarei); fourth and winner of the
Commissioner’s Cup for obedience work
were Senior Constable Mike Warren
and Zyger (Hawke’s Bay); fifth place
and winner of the Monaghan Trophy for
heelwork were Constable Gary Meikle
and Maverick (Wellington); sixth place
and winner of the Colin Guppy Trophy
for tracking were Senior Constable Julian
Lewis and Saegar (Nelson), and seventh
place and winner of the Monaghan Cup for
the ‘send away’ discipline were Constable
Blair Benson and Kane (Hawke’s Bay).
• Explosive Detection National Champion and winner of the Aviation
Security Shield went to Aviation
Security Officer Craig Bishop and Fyfe
from Wellington. Fyfe is a curly coated
retriever and this was their first win.
• Narcotic Detection Champion and
winner of the Alan Symes Cup and the
Maidstone Auto Point Cup was Senior
Customs Officer Kevin Hatrill and
Cass from Christchurch. They retained
their national title. Cass is a labrador.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad
awarded the various prizes. Representatives
from the other agencies also attended.
Association’s Turangi holiday
home badly damaged by fire
The Police Association has lost one of its
holiday homes at Turangi to fire.
Unit one was extensively damaged by
fire in mid-May and the repairs are
likely to take several months.
The incident occurred after a group
of people, who had just completed a
spring clean of the units, placed some
items in a drier, set the timer to turn off
and left the house.
Later that evening the alarm company
informed Turangi Police that both the
fire and flood alarms (monitored alarms)
had been activated at the property.
the trusses in the roof were severely
damaged and will need to be replaced,
as will all the bedroom furniture, light
fittings and the heat pump, which was
in the kitchen and dining area.
Insurers have been informed and
Welfare Fund Manager Pete Hayes
said the Association is committed to
repairing or replacing the home to its
previous standard.
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“As far as I am aware, this is the first
major fire in our holiday homes and we
are very glad that no one was injured as
a result of the fire,” he said.
A patrol car attended and found the
unit severely damaged.
The Association will soon contact
members who planned to stay in the
unit over the coming months.
Substantial replacements needed
The fire gutted the laundry, hallway,
bedroom and roof space. Many of
Obviously, all bookings will be
cancelled and full refunds will be given
to affected members.
• Unit 1 of the two Turangi holiday homes was extensively damaged by fire last month.
June 2010
119
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
A day in the life of a
New zealand police
physical education officer
Police work is often physically demanding so keeping fitness levels
high is an important part of the job.
Police Physical Education Officers (PEO) are
on hand to offer practical help, advice and
support to officers and recruits with their
fitness goals to maintain a level of fitness,
which enables them to complete their duties
proficiently.
To achieve this, PEOs provide health and
fitness testing, programming and remedial/
rehabilitation exercise prescription.
Nationwide, there are 10 PEOs and they do
a crucial job in keeping the force up to the
mark with its fitness.
Main duties
A big part of a PEO’s job is managing
the Physical Competency Test (PCT) and
the Physical Appraisal Test (PAT) for new
recruits and serving police officers.
New recruits must pass both tests before
being accepted into the Police. Serving
officers are subject to a PCT test every two
years.
However, the PCT is not compulsory for
officers above the rank of inspector. Officers
can apply for an exemption on medical
grounds or because of injury.
Wellington-based, Graham Wallwork, who
has been working as a PEO for 24 and a half
years said he felt “great satisfaction” from
seeing people pass the test.
PEOs are also involved in co-ordinating
health analysis tests (Cardiac Risk Profiling)
for all staff, specialist squad testing and
related pre-selection, remedial programmes,
team building and exercise rehabilitation.
Skills set
A comprehensive knowledge of physical
health, health education and sports science
is needed to do the job effectively. Good
communication skills, time management and
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June 2010
“Weekend work is sometimes required –
however this only happens around six times
a year,” Mr Wallwork said.
working independently as your own boss are
also important.
Mr Wallwork said the best part of the job
was helping people reach their goals.
“You are expected to write a lot of health
programmes and these can range from
rehabilitation programmes to more in-depth
programmes for specialist squads,” Mr
Wallwork told Police News.
“Nothing beats seeing their sense of
accomplishment once they get to where they
are wanting to go and this can range from
someone completing their rehabilitation to
reaching the highest level of their sporting
goals.”
“You have to able to work on your own,
as you are expected to come up with your
own ideas in relation to your own health
promotions.”
“A comprehensive
knowledge of physical
health, health education and
sports science is needed to
do the job effectively. Good
communication skills, time
management and working
independently as your own
boss are also important.”
Keeping yourself fit and healthy is another
must, according to Peter Wells, Mr
Wallwork’s colleague at Wellington Central.
“You really need to practice what you
preach, as there is no point telling people
one thing while you are doing something
else.
“This is why I try and eat healthy and
maintain a healthy exercise regime,” Mr
Wells said.
Hours of work
PEOs work standard working hours 0800–
1630 Monday to Friday. However, hours can
change depending on what is needed, so
there is some flexibility required.
He also said motivating people to adopt a
healthier lifestyle was a highlight.
Mr Wells said it was great when people
blitzed their remedial programmes.
“It a great feeling for me as well as them
when they come up to scratch and pass,”
he said.
Challenging conditions
One aspect of the job Mr Wallwork found
challenging was a lack of recognition from
some quarters of the Police hierarchy of the
importance of the health and fitness models
that PEOs deliver every day.
“I feel frustrated with how long some things
take to get done because I believe we could
do so much more with the right technology
and backing.
Mr Wells said it was frustrating when people
didn’t follow advice. Many sports coaches
would be able to relate.
“It’s difficult when you set out a programme
for someone and then they don’t follow
through. It’s disappointing because you
know if they just put a bit of effort in, they
would be able to get it,” Mr Wells said.
Changing times
Mr Wallwork said a lot of things had
changed since the PCT was first introduced.
“Back then, all we had was the PCT. Now
we have the PAT, the health analysis
test, and more recently rehabilitation
programming and specialist squad testing
which we have added over the years.”
review, which was looking into whether the
PCT was relevant to policing today.
Mr Wallwork said that exercise regimens
had changed for people over the years too.
“Once we get these results back we can work
out where we want to take the things from
there,” he said.
In recent years there has been a move
towards more whole body full functional
movements whereas previously training
revolved largely around more isolating
movements. “It’s now about adopting a
more holisview to exercise and we are really
seeing the benefits of this change,” he said.
Future initiatives
Mr Wells said Police were waiting on a
Other projects included looking into the types
of injuries officers suffer even while wearing
stab proof vests and the effect of these
injuries on the body.
“From this we can then incorporate
programmes, which can alleviate these
problems,” he added.
Try our 5 minute quiz
Okay, morning or afternoon tea break
has arrived. You have your cuppa in
hand and you and your colleagues
could do with a quick brain workout. So
appoint your quizmaster and have a go at
these questions. The answers are under
the quiz (upside down, no peeking!).
1. Which year was the death
sentence for murder abolished in
NZ?
2. Which animal communicates by
touch, smell and dance?
3. What is the sixth planet from the
sun in the solar system?
4. The shape of DNA is known as?
• Police Physical Education Officer Graham Wallwork looks on as new recruit Alice Wiggin
drags a 75kg dummy 10 metres during her PCT (Physical Competence Test).
5. What is the world’s most
common first name?
6. Who invented the scissors?
7. In which city would you find
Michelangelo’s statue of David?
8. What is the primary ingredient in
Gnocchi?
9. What is Mancala?
10. Where in Europe, is Leonardo da
Vinci Fiumicino Airport?
Scoring: 0-2 – Hmmn, room for
significant improvement (perhaps next
month). 3-5 Not bad, better luck next
time. 6-7 – Good effort. 8 – Very good.
9 – Excellent. 10 – Wipe your nose,
take a bow and go to the top of the class
Einstein.
Answers: 1. 1961 2. Bees . 3. Saturn
.4. A double helix . 5 Muhammad. 6.
Leonardo da Vinci 7. Florence 8. Potato
9. A board game 10. Rome
• Pete Wells, a Wellington Police Physical Education officer, demonstrating just one of the
techniques used for making it over the dreaded wall.
June 2010
121
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
What you should know about your leave entitlements
By Tracy White, Association Industrial Officer
Once again the pressure is going on
members around the country to take
leave before 30 June.
Please read the information below
to ensure that you understand your
entitlements, and what you need to do to
manage your leave.
The Association supports and
encourages the regular taking of leave
in line with the Collective Agreements.
We have also supported Police in
encouraging members to focus on
using their leave in a timely fashion,
especially those with high balances.
There are, however, a number of
inaccuracies being communicated to our
membership, including:
• Arbitrary leave balance limits (40
days, 35 days, and in some cases 20
days);
• That the two days additional leave
requested by the Commissioner is a
directive and must be followed; and
• That individual leave balances will be
measured as at 30 June.
There are several key things all members
must remember when it comes to leave
management:
1. Your leave year is the 12 months from
your anniversary date;
2. You must plan for and take your
annual entitlement every year;
3. You must be below the 18-month
limit at your anniversary date, and
if you anticipate that you will be
above this, you must adjust your plan
accordingly; and
4. You cannot be directed to take leave
without a fair and transparent leave
management process.
Your entitlement
As per the Collective Agreements
(Constabulary Section 5, Police
Employees Section 4), you are entitled
to hold up to 18 months worth of leave
(across all leave types, excluding Long
Service Leave) on your balances at any
one time. This is not a target. This limit
recognises that even when you plan your
leave, the nature of policing is such that
at times you may not take all planned
leave, or you may accrue leave in excess
of your plan. Police may not implement
122
June 2010
a formal leave management plan until
you exceed this balance.
At your anniversary date you must be
below the 18-month limit.
Your ‘leave year’
Members must plan their leave for the
12 months from their anniversary date.
This is your ‘leave year’. The 30th of
June is the end of the financial year for
Police and, as such, this is an important
date from their perspective. However,
Police must bear in mind that members
cannot be directed to manage their leave
on the basis of a 30 June date. This is an
arbitrary date in regard to leave.
Where a member is above the 18-month
limit, Police will put the member’s leave
management under closer scrutiny. This
will involve the supervisor and member
having a discussion about why the plan
didn’t work and putting in place a new
plan for the upcoming year.
If, despite leave management, the
member still has a balance higher
than the 18-month limit at their next
anniversary date, Police may direct the
member to take leave. This should be at
a time suitable to both parties, but where
Police and the member cannot agree on
What you must do
You should plan to take your annual
entitlement every year. This will differ
from member to member.
Leave type (days)
Annual leave
Statutory
holidays
Commissioner’s days
Shiftworker’s leave
PCT
leave
Constabulary, <5yr service
20
11
2
1-5
3
Constabulary, >5yr service
25
11
1-5
3
Police employee <5yr service
20
11
Police employee >5yr service
25
11
Police employee: Shiftwork <5yr
20
11
3
1-5
Police employee, Shiftwork >5yr
25
11
1-5
Employee Type
3
If your balance is at or over the
18-month accrual, you must plan to take
your annual entitlement PLUS enough
additional leave to ensure that at your
next anniversary date you are below the
18-month limit.
a suitable time, Police may direct the
member to take leave at a specified date.
In the current financial year the
Commissioner asked that every member
take his or her annual entitlement plus
at least two additional days to help the
organisation out financially. The Police
Association has been encouraging
members to co-operate with this
request. However, the real target is not
the members who have actively managed
their leave. It is those with excessive leave
balances. Where you have taken your
annual entitlement, and your balance is
within the 18-month limit, the taking of
two additional days is not a requirement
that must be complied with.
“Mystical powers”
escape so Police
face lawsuit
What should a leave management
process look like?
Ideally, leave management should
happen throughout the year. Members
must submit a leave plan every year, and
throughout the year adjust it as required.
As you can see, leave management is an
ongoing process.
Idaho man Craig Shaw, 49, has
filed a lawsuit against the US state
for compensation following his
arrest for drink driving.
Shaw said the cops opened his
prized medicine bag, allowing
“mystical powers” inside to
escape.
He said the bag was blessed by a
“medicine woman” in 1995 and
had been unopened since then,
presumably in order to prevent the
mystical powers from escaping!
Police Association welcomes IPCA child abuse report
The Police Association welcomed the Independent Police
Conduct Authority’s report into backlogs in the investigation
of child abuse files.
“This is an area that has been of concern to members working
in the child abuse area for some time. The Police Association
drew attention to the problem in 2006 and we welcome the
IPCA’s focus on it,” Police Association Vice-President Stuart
Mills said.
A Police News investigation published in the September
2006 issue headed New Zealand’s “Dark Secret” (opposite)
highlighted the problem and the concerns overstretched
investigators had about it. In the Wairarapa, there was a
backlog of over 100 child abuse cases. Two years later, Police
launched Operation Hope and it quickly became a nationwide
inquiry. Police have now apologised for not properly
investigating child abuse cases.
Suffer the little children…
James Whakaruru, Lilybing Karaitiana-Matiaha, Saliel Jalassa Aplin, Olympia
Marissa Jetson (Saliel’s half-sister), Coral Anne-Burrows, Delcelia Witika,
• SalielAplinandOlympia
Jetson
They are, of course, the victims of New Zealand’s
darkest secret – child abuse. These are some of the
children who who paid with their lives – their names
and faces constant reminders of New Zealand’s
shameful record of violence towards our innocents.
A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report,
places us as the third worst country in terms of child
abuse maltreatment deaths of 27 ‘rich’ countries.
In 1994 we ranked sixth.
• Coral-AnneBurrows
Mr Mills said: “Clearly sufficient resources were not allocated
to child abuse investigations in the past. There was pressure
on to get results in volume crime areas like burglaries and
theft ex-car. Those were strategic targets and performance
was measured against the targets. Resources tended to follow.
This meant that in a few areas - but by no means across the
board - CIB staff were left stretched too thin across other types
of crime including child abuse.”
Difficult and complex work
“We believe this was largely because, historically, some highlevel decision-makers didn’t fully appreciate what’s required to
do ‘business as usual’ policing, like child abuse investigations,
properly. Child abuse investigations are difficult, complex and
time consuming,” Mr Mills said.
Babies under a year old are at much higher risk in
New Zealand than elsewhere, accounting for 30% of
all child deaths from maltreatment here against 24%
internationally.
Types of abuse
Police Commissioner Howard Broad said that Police had “let
these people down”.
Duty of care
Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Justice Lowell
Goddard said Police may have failed in their duty of care
but Commissioner Broad has rejected this assertion. Justice
Goddard said Police needed to focus on having dedicated
child abuse teams.
Chris and Cru Kahui – their names and faces make our blood run cold.
• JamesWhakaruru
• ChrisandCruKahui
There are four main recognised types of child abuse
- physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and
neglect. Emotional abuse can be a component of the
other three types but it is not uncommon for all four
types of abuse to co-exist.
A review of every death for children aged 0–14 years by
Dr Peter Watson in 1999 found that homicide was one
of the three leading causes of death. This unpublished
data provides compelling evidence, which suggests
that New Zealand’s ‘dark secret’ is that a child’s right
to life and security is not being adequately met in New
Zealand.
New Zealand’s social agencies, along with specialist
Police Child Abuse Teams (CAT), are at the coalface of
dealing with the problem of maltreatment of the most
defenceless members of our society.
Worsening situation
• LilybingKaraitianaMatiaha
- photos courtesy of The
DominionPost
The situation has continued to get worse with a 45%
increase (a record 13,017 cases) in established child
abuse cases identified by the Department of Child,
Youth and Family last year. Suspected child abuse
notified to CYF continues to rise – up from 53,000
cases last year to 63,800 this year – a 20% increase.
During the past four years notifications have risen 86%.
The number of children suffering substantiated abuse or
neglect was up 62% in the same period. (Source: CYF).
Every day 35 New Zealand children suffer from abuse
or neglect. Seven of them will be admitted to hospital.
Ten children will be killed this year by a supposed
‘caregiver’. The problem in identifying ‘at risk’ children
is extremely difficult. A study in 2004 showed that only
20% of families where a child homicide occurred had
previously had contact with Child, Youth and Family
(CYF).
CYF figures show that, during the month of June, there
were 3003 files marked “urgent”, “very urgent” or
“critical” which require further action. The criticality of a
case is only assigned once the case has been assessed
as requiring further action. “Critical” notifications are the
most extreme classification and require attention within
24 hours.
That’s an increase over those three file classifications of
75% in three years (1720 files in June 2003).
Disproportionate representation
While child abuse is by no means an ethnic problem – it
is more closely linked to poverty than ethnicity – Maori
children are more at risk and are disproportionately
represented in child abuse statistics.
Fifteen percent (15%) of the population are Maori but
45% of notifications are for Maori children. Thirty-five
percent (35%) are for NZ European children, 11% for
Pacific Island children and a little over 2% are for Asian
children. Maori children die from maltreatment at a
rate, which is twice that of NZ European children (1.5
per 100,000 for Maori to 0.7 per 100,000). Caution
is needed in disaggregating data by ethnic groups,
however, and these figures should be viewed in light of
the fact that Maori children are more exposed to the risk
of fatal child maltreatment associated with having a step
parent, as Maori children are twice as likely as
“Let’s not forget also that it was child abuse investigators
themselves who brought this issue to light, because of their
concern that they were not getting the support they needed to
deliver the service they wanted to deliver. It has taken a lot
of courage to do that, knowing it would invite an enormous
amount of scrutiny and potentially criticism, and that speaks
volumes for their commitment to the job and concern for the
victims of this sort of crime.”
Mr Mills said he believed that the NZ Police are committed
to addressing the problems originally identified by the Police
Association investigation and by the subsequent IPCA report.
Pahiatua police officer takes part in hair-raising event
About now would be a good time to
start telling Constable Peter Knight of
Pahiatua hair-raising stories.
Constable Knight recently raised $1,000
for the Shave for a Cure campaign.
The campaign is the Leukemia
and Blood Foundation’s signature
fundraising event where people can
participate in shaving off their locks as a
way to show empathy and solidarity for
suffers of leukemia.
It was the second time Mr Knight had
taken part in the event.
“My wife Karyn organised one last year
and we were so pleased with how it
went, we were keen to host another.
“It’s such a good cause and the day’s
activities never fail to give people a few
good laughs,” he said.
Mr Knight and his wife had a special
empathy with the campaign – Mr
Knight’s grandfather
died of cancer, as did
Mrs Knight’s father.
Thirty people, including the Mayor of
the Tararua District,
Maureen
Reynolds, • Constable Peter
Knight.
and several members
of the local volunteer fire brigade, took
part in the event.
June 2010
123
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Wairoa cops muck in to restore police graves
A vision, which has seen two
policeman’s graves restored by a group
of community-minded Wairoa cops,
was made possible thanks to a small
grant from the Police Association
Group.
Welfare Fund Manager Pete Hayes was
pleased the Police Association Group
could be of assistance, as he said it was
important to remember those Police
members who sacrificed their lives in
performing their duties.
“It is good to see police getting together
and doing these kinds of things,” he
said.
Project’s beginnings
The Wairoa Cemetery project kicked
off late last year when Sergeant Aubrey
Ormond, Sergeant Matt King, Senior
Constable Jim Simpson, Detective
Constable Jason Thackeray and Wairoa
Intel Officer Tracey Hawkins decided
it would be a good idea to restore the
graves of police who had died whilst on
duty.
Mr Thackeray said the policing
community was “one big family”
so restoring and keeping up the
maintenance of these sites showed
respect for colleagues who had died
while serving the Police.
Restoration process
The first gravesite to be restored
belonged to a policeman named George
McDonnell, who was a sub-Inspector
Have you moved
recently?
If you have moved or perhaps are
about to, please let us know so we
can update your records. You can
do this by:
• writing to us at PO Box 12344;
• calling us on free phone 0800
500 122;
• PUTTING IN THE HARD YARDS: (Left to right): Sergeant Mark King, Detective-Constable
Jason Thackeray, Senior Constable Jim Simpson and Sergeant Aubrey Ormond hard at work
at the Wairoa Cemetery.
for the Armed Constabulary Force
based in Wairoa.
He passed away on October 8, 1872
while on duty. He was 38 years of age.
It is unknown how Mr McDonnell died
as the Duty and Occurences book from
that time, which is held at the Wairoa
Museum, offers little detail.
The history
The second gravesite to be restored was
that of Constable Edward Barry.
Mr Barry drowned near the Wairoa bar
on December 31, 1890. He was 32.
Mr Barry was coming over the Wairoa
bar on a punt with a young boy. The
punt was swamped and Mr Barry saved
the boy’s life by swimming with him
and holding him up until they got to
shore. He then returned to the water
to retrieve items from the punt but was
swept out to sea. His body was found a
short time later on Wairoa beach.
Job well done
Mr Thackeray said the restoration process
had gone well.
• Emailing us at: membership@
policeassn.org.nz
“It is something that we were proud to
be a part of and we now put out the
challenge to other stations to do the
same thing in their communities,” he
told Police News.
You need to let us know your
membership number, new address
and if you’re a serving member your new station.
Mr Thackeray acknowledged the
contributions of Pat Barry and the Police
Association in helping the project come
to fruition.
• faxing us on (04) 496 6819; or
124
June 2010
• Edward Barry’s memorial was restored to
its original state thanks to the help of a
local signwriter.
• George McDonnell’s grave after the
restoration process.
Longest-serving Association staff member,
Diann Stephen, leaves in mid-June
Long-serving Police Association staff member, Diann Stephen,
a membership co-ordinator, will mark her 34th year of service
for the Association on June 16 – and will be leaving the
Association’s service two days later.
Diann was honoured in 2006 with the inaugural President’s
Award at a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of her
career with the organisation.
Diann started working for the Police Association on the 16
June 1976, as a part-time worker in charge of maintaining
membership records. Diann’s hours gradually increased and
by 1978 she was working fulltime.
Five years earlier, the Police and Families Credit Union was
founded after a meeting of eight people at then President Alan
Monk’s house.
Secondment
Diann was seconded to sort things out and she has been
sorting things out in various positions within the Association
ever since. During her time with the Association, Diann has
worked in a wide variety of roles, for the Health Plan, Credit
Union, Welfare Fund, Staffpac Insurances and the Association
itself and it is that institutional knowledge, which has made
her a great asset to all.
As anyone who has started work early in the Association’s
National Office can tell you – you have to get up early to beat
Diann Stephen to work. On many such occasions over the 22
years I have known Diann, I’ve also realised that often she has
been the last to leave too.
Putting things right
She would have done well working for L V Martin, as their
famous motto “it’s the putting right that counts” would sit well
with Diann’s superb work ethic. It was not uncommon for
Diann to take work home to sort things out beyond normal
business hours.
Part of her membership duties entailed working to recover
debts from defaulters. No easy task and requiring a good
deal of diplomacy – as well as the ability to be straight with
recalcitrant members. On occasion she has had to call a spade
a spade when dealing with discourteous members – but always
with a courtesy that sadly some members lack when dealing
with Association staff. Members who have tended to ‘shoot the
messenger’ for their own financial misgivings have soon found
that Diann can stand up for herself. She is nobody’s fool and
good on her for that.
Confidences
As the voice of the Association, in attempting to reconcile
these debts, she is often privy to details of people’s personal
lives. She has gained the respect of many through her ability
• FITTING HONOUR: Three decades of service to Police Association
members were honoured when President Greg O’Connor presented
the inaugural President’s Award to Diann Stephen in 2006. Diann
retires from her Association position on 18 June after 34 years
service.
to keep a confidence and for the compassionate way in which
she has dealt with members in often stressful situations.
Diann’s focus has always been on helping members. This has
extended beyond her usual working hours to 11 years as a
Victim Support counsellor on the Kapiti Coast. Her work in
assisting victims of crime and bereaved families, who may
have lost family members in road accidents or the like, has
helped many hundreds of people. She is greatly respected by
Kapiti police for her work there.
Biggest change
Diann Stephen has been a mine of knowledge for many staff,
including five Presidents and five National Secretaries and her
institutional knowledge of the Association and its subsidiaries
is, not surprisingly, second-to-none.
Members have greatly benefited from Diann’s 34 years of
service – as have the various subsidiaries that now make up
the ‘Association’. I have been honoured to call her my friend
over more than two decades. She has been a great help to
me during that time with various membership queries and
changes, and when things needed ‘sorting out’. I wish her well
in her new endeavours as I feel sure many of her Association
colleagues and members will too.
June 2010
125
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Reducing blood alcohol limits part of a
greater plan to make our roads safer
For years now NZ Police have been banging on the door of successive governments with a plea to
reduce the allowable blood alcohol level for drivers to 50 mg per 100 ml.
As this issue was due to go to press, Cabinet
was due to discuss just such a proposal.
Police want a reduction in both the adult and
teenage drivers’ legal blood alcohol limits.
Since the current New Zealand blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) level of 80mg/100ml or
0.08% for adult drivers was set in December
1988, a mountain of scientific evidence
has been produced both internationally and
locally, which supports the case for reducing
the level to 50 mg/100ml or 0.05%.
The push for a lower BAC limit is just part of
a larger strategy to address New Zealand’s
binge-drinking culture.
Tragic stats
The most recent road statistics available
indicate that approximately 25% of drivers
involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol
limits in excess of the current BAC limit. Blood
alcohol tests could be carried out on 81% of
drivers involved in fatalities in those years.
National Road Policing Manager,
Superintendent Paula Rose, is keen to
see the limit reduced. So is the Police
Association. The Association has supported
Police moves to reduce the limits for
under-20 drivers, who do not have a full
drivers’ licence to zero, and adults (down
to 50 mg/100 mls). The Association made
submissions to this effect to the Justice
and Electoral Committee, which considered
submissions on the Sale and Supply of
Liquor Enforcement Bill in April last year.
“The detection option has seen the
addition of two super booze buses join
our enforcement fleet and these are
based in Auckland, which has the largest
concentration of motorists in the country.
The regularity of ‘catches’ is concerning and
certainly emphasises the need for us to be
vigilant in targeting drink drivers. As part of
this we are mixing up tactics and changing
operating hours,” Ms Rose said.
The visibility of booze buses also provides an
important deterrent.
126
June 2010
In the last year, Police have added a further
200 alcohol testing devices to their arsenal
– bringing the total on issue to over 2,000.
Long process
Ms Rose said that while there was work still
being done on reducing alcohol levels it had
been “a long process”. “In the meantime,
Police are keeping pace with what is
happening overseas as well as keeping up
with research into how we can do things
better,” she said.
The impetus for a reduction in the
allowable BAC has come from a variety
of agencies with Police, the Accident
Compensation Corporation (ACC), the
Alcohol Advisory Council and the Ministry
Overseas experience shows
lowering the blood-alcohol
limit from 80mg to 50mg
could save 14 lives and
prevent 260 serious injuries
a year. Statistics show that
people who have even the
current legal amount of
alcohol in their blood are
30 percent more likely to be
involved in an accident.
of Health drug policy team having backed a
recommendation for a Ministry of Transport
evaluation. The campaign to lower the limit
is part of a wider brief to respond to New
Zealander’s ‘binge drinking’ culture.
Worldwide call
The bulk of the evidence for a reduction
in the BAC limit comes from countries,
which have implemented lower legal limits
of 50mg or less. It is so compelling that it
has encouraged widespread calls for the
establishment of 50mg adult BAC limits from
various worldwide health and road safety
organisations - including the World Medical
Association, American
and British Medical
Associations, World
Health Organisation,
European
Commission,
European Transport
Safety Council,
• Steven Joyce,
Royal Society for
the Minister
the Prevention of
of Transport,
Accidents, International will take the
proposals to
Transportation Safety
lower the blood
Association, Association alcohol limits to
Cabinet.
for the Advancement of
Automotive Medicine, American College of
Emergency Physicians, and the Australian
Transport Safety Bureau.
While successive governments have, over
the years, prevaricated on the call for lower
limits, the public is in favour of a harder line.
A recent UMR Research Ltd survey found
that 76% of respondents favoured reducing
the legal allowable blood alcohol limit for
driving.
Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce had a
fairly stock standard reply when Police News
asked him whether the Government was any
nearer implementation of the Police proposal
to lower the limits. “The Government takes
drink driving very seriously. Our current
focus in this area is on strong enforcement
of the existing laws, and education,” he said.
More resolve?
Since then the Government’s resolve is likely
to have strengthened on the back of some
horrific crash statistics, which have put
earlier road toll reduction targets in jeopardy.
Clearly the drink-driving message is slow in
getting through to some New Zealanders.
The Easter weekend holiday road toll was
21. In the last 12 months (at time of writing)
the road toll had increased by 6.83% from
366 to 391. The trend is worrying.
A Land Transport Safety Authority (now the
NZ Transport Agency) study in 2004 found
that a third of drivers still believe the risk
of being caught drink driving is small. In
2004, 46% of New Zealand drivers reported
being stopped at an alcohol checkpoint,
whereas a similar Australian study showed
82% reported being stopped (Williams et al
2000).
Police are committed to detecting and
deterring offenders who breach the current
alcohol limits. Highway Patrol officers, in
particular, are focused on reducing the
carnage on our roads that results from drink
driving.
NZ’s alcohol problem
Alcohol is the problem behind the wheel as
much as it is on the streets of every city and
town on Friday and Saturday nights. Police
in many districts have reported that longer
licensing hours have led to disorder and
stretched Police resources. Police estimate
that 70% of the incidents they attend are
related to excessive alcohol consumption
– so it is hardly surprising that converts
into appalling road fatality statistics too.
The availability of alcohol has increased
substantially in the last three decades.
Compulsory breath testing
In 1993 a lower legal breath/blood alcohol
limit for drivers aged under 20 years was
introduced, as was compulsory (random)
breath-testing. Five years later an immediate
28-day licence suspension for a high breath
test reading was introduced.
The most recent attempt to lower the legal
BAC for driving to 50 mg/100 ml came in
late 2003 but was not supported by the then
Labour Government. A year earlier Transport
Minister Paul Swain sought to halve the
amount of alcohol people could consume
before driving. His proposal apparently fell
on deaf ears in Cabinet and the option was
not taken up.
The recently passed Land Transport
Amendment Bill includes tougher penalties
for serious and recidivist drink-drivers,
including lowering the legal BAC limit for
roadside licence suspension and also gives
police officers extra powers to detect drugimpaired drivers.
Zero tolerance BAC for young drivers
Now the Government is looking at a zero
tolerance alcohol limit for young drivers.
It says that legislation could be passed by
year’s end. It is also looking at raising the
• A FAMILY’S MESSAGE: A poignant message left by a grieving family after a drunk driver
killed a family member. - Photo courtesy of Istockphoto.com and cptpoly.
legal driving age to 16. This has met with
howls of protest from Federated Farmers,
who mooted an exemption for 15-year-olds
in rural areas. The Government has thus
far stood firm against that suggestion even
though rural New Zealand has been the
heartland base for voter support for the
National Party for decades. As any police
officer worth his or her salt will tell you – the
law must apply equally to all.
The downward trend in alcohol-related
deaths and crashes experienced during the
1990s has plateaued, supporting the call for
a 50 mg/100 ml BAC limit for drivers and a
near-zero level for young drivers.
At 80mg/100 ml for adults (30 mg/100 ml
for under 20 years), New Zealand shares
with the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United
States and Canada one of the highest
BAC levels among comparable countries.
Australia, Japan and most of Europe have
50 mg/100 ml legal limits for adults and
some (for example, Sweden at 20 mg/100
ml) have lower levels.
Drink driving is largely a male problem. Over
June 2010
127
The Voice of Police
Horrific toll
In the last five years the number of ACC
claims from motor vehicle injuries and
deaths (approximately 5,500 per year now)
has risen a staggering 25%. In an estimated
25% of those accidents (1,375) alcohol
was a contributing factor. The flow on effect
of savings in ACC and to the health sector
generally is obvious if the trauma on the
roads can be reduced by a change in the
BAC limits.
Last year, a Health Ministry blueprint
recommended “real and enduring changes”
to tackle New Zealand’s drink-driving
problem.
The previous Labour administration
announced legislation to introduce a zeroalcohol limit for drivers under-20 years of
age who do not have a full licence. Statistics
show that men aged 20 to 24 pose the most
at risk behind the wheel.
Thirty-eight drivers in the 20-24 age bracket
died in crashes between 2005-2007,
compared with 33 in the previous two years.
By comparison, 20 drivers in both the 15-to19 and 25-to-29 age groups were killed in
the 2005-2007 period.
A 2008 Massey University study confirmed
that alcohol-related crashes involving drivers
aged 18-19 have jumped since the legal
drinking age was lowered to 18.
Percentage of drivers in fatal crashes who were affected by alcohol, by licence
status (2003–2005)
Full
Licence status
85% of the alcohol-affected drivers in fatal
crashes are men.
Restricted
Never Licensed
Learner
Disqualified
0
20
40
Percent affected by alcohol
June 2010
80
Relative risk of fatal crash by blood alcohol level
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100 110 120 130 140 150
Percent affected by alcohol
Age 15–19
Age 20–29
Age 30+
• The graph above shows the increase (in percentage) in terms of risk from a NZ study of
drivers involved in alcohol related fatal crashes at night. There is a clear increase in risk as
blood alcohol levels increase. The effect is more pronounced for young drivers, but still very
significant for older drivers. Source: ALAC (Alcohol Advisory Council).
• Rain, hail or shine – police are out at checkpoints trying to reduce the road carnage delivered by drunk drivers.
128
60
• The above graph indicates the licence status of alcohol-affected drivers at the time they were
involved in a fatal crash in a study conducted between 2003-2005.
Increase in risk
PoliceNews
Decline
The study showed by year 2000 that
alcohol-related crashes declined steadily
from almost 300 per 100,000 drivers in that
age bracket in 1990 to below 100. The fall
has been attributed to the success of the
national campaign against drink driving.
However, the alcohol-related crash rate
bounced back after the drinking age was
lowered to 18 in December 1999 - from 93
in 2000 up to 144 by 2003.
Researcher Taisia Huckle, who led the
study, concluded that it was “likely that the
lowering of the purchase age for alcohol
has contributed to increases in harmful
outcomes for young people in New Zealand,
including more serious outcomes such as
traffic crashes”.
The study investigated prosecutions for
drink-driving and disorder offences as well
as alcohol-related crash rates. Prosecutions
of 18 and 19-year-olds for driving with
excess alcohol were steady at around 2,000
for every 100,000 people in the age group
in every year up to 1999, but then jumped
from the year 2000 onwards to about 2,300
in 2003.
Lives saved
Overseas experience shows lowering the
blood-alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg
could save 14 lives and prevent 260 serious
injuries a year. Furthermore, people who
have even the current legal amount of
alcohol in their blood are 30 percent more
likely to be involved in an accident.
The conclusion is obvious – even if a driver
is not over the limit, he or she is still a risk to
himself/herself and other road users.
Police and alcohol watchdogs are reluctant
to say exactly how much drivers could
consume to stay within the proposed lower
limits because of individual variables such as
body mass and the amount of food a driver
has consumed.
The ban on cell phone use while driving,
lowering of the blood alcohol limits and the
raising the minimum driving age are key
initiatives in the Road Safety Strategy 2010.
Part of that strategy will involve further
education on the risk associated with drink
driving, follow-up enforcement and moves
to prevent impaired (drugs or alcohol) or
distracted driving (using cell phones and a
myriad other distractions that drivers engage
in from reading the paper to changing the
CD or the channel on the stereo).
Additional measures mooted
Another study (Mann et al 2001) suggested
that additional measures such as training
bar and restaurant staff to recognise
intoxication among patrons and the
availability of alternatives to driving, such
as courtesy/free taxi services, would further
the road safety cause and provide effective
measures for harm reduction on our roads.
The great work of Police and other agencies
in reducing the road toll by 19% between
2004 (435 fatalities) and last year (366
fatalities) is showing signs of faltering, and
the BAC limit reduction that the Government
looks almost certain to rubber stamp will be
a step in the right direction to stemming the
appalling alcohol-related carnage on New
Zealand’s roads.
Sources: NZ Police, NZ Transport Agency, The
NZ Ministry of Transport, The NZ Health Ministry,
Massey University study of 2008, NZ Land Transport Safety Authority study of 2004, The Accident
Compensation Corporation, the Alcohol Advisory
Council and The Liquor Licensing Authority.
Majority of police officers favour
lowering blood alcohol limits
Nielsen Research conducted a survey
of Police Association members in
November 2008 to determine their views
on lowering the permissible (adult) blood
alcohol concentration limit for driving,
from the current 80 mg per 100 ml of
blood, to 50 mg per 100 ml (or its breath
alcohol equivalent, which would see a
reduction from the current 400 mcg per
litre of breath to 250 mcg per litre of
breath).
Sixty-two percent (62%) of members
supported the lowering of the limit while
28% opposed it and 10% were not
sure. Again, those members who we
would expect to deal most directly and
often with the consequences of alcohol
impaired driving were more in favour
of the proposal: 64% of constabulary staff
(compared to 55% of non-constabulary
employees) were in favour. Particularly
strong support came from road policing staff
(82%) and Commercial Vehicle Investigation
Unit staff (81%).
Inexperience
Young people under the age of 20 are
relatively inexperienced both as drinkers, and
as drivers, and are likely to be poorer judges
both of their own alcohol tolerance and driving
competence. Teenagers are also widely
acknowledged to be more inclined towards
risk-taking because of the under-development
of their brains. The Sale and Supply of Liquor
and Liquor Enforcement Bill proposes to set a
zero-alcohol limit for such drivers if they are
on a graduated driver’s licence.
Tragic consequences
Frontline officers, especially those on
road patrols, often witness the tragic
consequences of mixing speed, youth,
lack of driving ability/experience, and
alcohol. For that reason, there is also
considerable anecdotal support for
the blood/alcohol limit to be lowered
to zero across the board for under
20-year-olds (i.e., not only for those
on graduated licences).
The Police Association feels this would
eliminate any room for confusion,
standardise expectations of behaviours
within under-20 peer groups, and
simplify the social marketing exercise
needed to back up a change.
June 2010
129
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Understanding organised crime: Last year, following
mounting concern amongst members about the
unchecked rise of organised crime in New Zealand,
the Police Association undertook an in-depth
investigation to build a better understanding
of the problem. In last month’s magazine,
Police News began exploring 10 key
features of organised crime. This month
we continue our series by looking at how
organised crime conducts its business
through networks of front companies and
professional advisers, in its quest for profit.
10 key features of organised crime
The Police Association’s work, drawing on overseas studies
such as that conducted by Victoria Police and the Australian
National University, identified 10 key features of organised
crime:
1. Organised crime does not begin; it evolves.
2. Organised crime is not gangs.
3. Organised crime is criminal enterprise.
4. Organised crime is networked.
5. Organised crime is profit motivated.
6. Organised crime is opportunistic and adaptable.
7. Organised crime seeks to hide and legitimise wealth.
8. Organised crime seeks to corrupt.
9. Organised crime networks are resilient.
10.Traditional policing is not enough.
Last month’s article covered the first three features.
4. Organised crime is networked.
Modern organised crime is made up of a network of individuals and
groups. It is not a closed, hierarchical organisation.
That means combating organised crime is not simply a matter
of catching ‘Mr Big’. Networks are complex, with highly fluid
connections, and power is widely distributed. It’s not a case of finding
the top of the pyramid, or finding the linchpin, which will bring the
whole lot tumbling down.
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June 2010
As noted by the Australian Crime Commission in 2007:
Organised crime groups have … tended to be highly
structured and hierarchical but this has started to change
recently as they adopt more flexible structures, operating in
networks to progress joint ‘business ventures’. These networks
bring together groups and individuals who play complementary
roles and may involve criminals of different ethnicities, skills
and criminal interests. Some networks are formed for short
periods while others may last for years.1
The Criminal Intelligence Service Canada similarly observed:
Almost all organised crime groups network or collaborate
with other groups to facilitate criminality. For instance, crime
groups may collaborate by combining funds to finance a large
importation or production operation. It is also common for more
sophisticated groups to regularly use smaller, less capable
groups to distribute contraband. Few groups operate with no
contact or collaboration with others.2
As a specific example, with reference to Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) intelligence on the Canadian heroin trade:
It is not uncommon for a member of one triad to team up with
another triad member and work for the leader of a heroin
smuggling group who is not a member of any triad at all. The
situation is viewed as a private business transaction. Still, triad
membership can be essential for purposes of networking and
the development of criminal relationships based on trust.3
1 Organised Crime In Australia, Australian Crime Commission, 2007 Edition.
2 Organised Crime in Canada, Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, Annual Report 2007
3 Asian organised crime and terrorist activity in Canada 1999-2002, Library of Congress, July 2003
Photo courtesy of Istockphoto.com and Hidesey.
Lifting the lid on organised crime:
An understanding of the networked, rather than strictly hierarchical
and delineated nature of organised crime, is critical to ensuring policy
responses and law enforcement activities are strategically targeted to
cause the maximum possible network disruption.
The big picture
‘Traditional’ policing is focused on prosecuting individual crimes and
criminals, with little emphasis on first understanding how the specific
individuals, organisations, relationships or transactions fit in to the big
picture.
Effective law enforcement activity must be mandated, resourced,
and empowered to conduct long-term intelligence, surveillance, and
investigation of organised crime from a ‘blue skies’ perspective,
aimed at building a thorough understanding of the wide network and
its complex web of links.
Police Association investigations indicate a comprehensive network
map of New Zealand organised crime would link together a vast
array of groups, individuals, lawful and unlawful entities, both on and
offshore, including examples of the following:
Typically, interactions between participants revolve around
tradable commodity flows (including intangible commodities such
as protection and influence) or provision of professional services
(whether lawful or unlawful). Relationships may be transaction-based,
or based on historical/personal or family links. Transactions may be
exchanges of goods and services, or cash and kind.
Legal-illegal crossover
Not all of the transactions are illegal, nor are all the participants
necessarily ‘criminals’ or aware of the true nature of their business
partners or clients. Organised crime business deliberately weaves in
and out of lawful society, to disguise its activity and wealth.
The types of business conducted across organised crime networks
are limited only by the creativity of the participants in identifying
opportunities to further their interests, and their collective capacity to
undertake a venture.
Types of business conducted by New Zealand organised crime
include dealing in goods and services including:
DrugsInfluence
OMCGs (Organised Motorcycle Gangs) (Head Hunters; Hells
Angels; affiliated gangs)
Firearms
Ethnic gangs (Mongrel Mob; Black Power; affiliated gangs)
Russian and Eastern European groups
Real estateInformation
Other propertyExpertise
Asian Organised Crime groups
ProtectionAccess
Front companies and businesses
Market opportunityFacilitation
Shelf and holding companies
Tradable natural resourcesIntroduction
including paua, crayfish, high
value flora and fauna
Bank accounts and other deposit/withdrawal and payment
processing facilities
Power
VehiclesViolence/’muscle’
Finance companies
Remittance agents
Trusts
Banking consultants
Tax consultants
Financial advisors
Apparently legitimate businessmen
Business consultants
Professional trustees
Lawyers
Investors
Professional directors
Brokers of introductions, influence, transactions
Consumers
Wholesalers
Traffickers
Dealers
Mules
Enforcers
Corrupt/compromised officials
Apparently legitimate major assets
Specialisation and sale of expertise
Mature organised crime networks are characterised by certain
groups and individuals developing marketable expertise in certain
types of activities. They then become the market providers of those
specialisations for other criminals.
Overseas investigations have established, for example, that credit
card skimming groups tend to simply gather card details, and then
on-sell those details to other groups who manufacture fraudulent
cards using the stolen details.4 The distribution of these cards
to groups who systematically engage in their fraudulent use may
be outsourced again to highly organised specialist groups, with
operatives in many different countries, who by acting in a coordinated way in multiple locations can extract the maximum wealth
from a set of cards within a few hours, before the fraud is detected.
In a further example of specialisation, with respect to China-based
organised crime groups, a US Library of Congress Report published in
2003 states:
The major Chinese crime groups do not seek monopolies on
drug trafficking activities or illicit financial transactions. Rather,
members, especially those located in mainland China, play
their most important role in brokering deals and facilitating
the shipment of illegal contraband through Hong Kong to
destinations abroad.5
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
June 2010
131
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Similarly, with respect to human trafficking into Canada:
Generally, trafficking networks reportedly are loose alliances
among various groups that join forces to take advantage
of existing opportunities. The success of the business is
the primary motivating factor, and the triads do not hold
a monopoly on the industry. The trafficking enterprises,
however, usually are well structured. Responsibilities such as
recruitment, document forgery, transport, and employment are
subcontracted out.6
With respect to heroin trafficking in Canada around the year 2000,
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intelligence described the
networking of various specialised groups as follows:
“Heroin trafficking, in particular, involves the co-operation of
various groups at different levels to get the product to its final
destination. For example, street gangs often act as enforcers who
are, in turn, supported by more established and powerful groups.”7
In the New Zealand methamphetamine trade, it is believed large but
relatively unsophisticated gangs such as the Mongrel Mob act as
enforcers for more powerful gangs such as the Head Hunters and
Hells Angels. This enforcement is exercised both in and outside of
prisons.
Drug distribution
Our information suggests the Mongrel Mob, Black Power, and smaller
OMCGs are also understood to specialise in retail drug distribution
due to their widely distributed geographical presence.
Mongrel Mob are the ‘go to’ organisation for most general blunt
enforcement activity, intimidation, high-risk enterprises (especially
those involving violence), and manual labour, including illegal
harvesting of valuable resources such as paua and timber.
Asian organised crime groups specialise in drug and pre-cursor
importation, and export of commodities such as paua. Russian
organised crime groups specialise in illegal firearms importation and
export of stolen luxury vehicles. The Head Hunters and Hells Angels
are believed to specialise in deal initiation, control and brokerage,
including linking drug precursors with manufacturers, and drugs with
distributors. The Head Hunters are also thought to be developing
expertise in international money laundering.
Smaller players and individuals also have their specialisations.
Romanian organised crime groups are represented by New Zealandbased individuals who facilitate and co-ordinate other Romanians
and Eastern Europeans to come to New Zealand under the guise of
tourism to perpetrate organised credit card fraud, ATM skimming,
and similar crime.
Other individuals have developed personal expertise in identity fraud
and identity theft. These skills are used to enable large-scale frauds,
and sold via ‘crime workshop’-style consultancies, often in prisons.
5. Organised crime is profit motivated.
Like lawful business operating in legitimate markets, organised
crime, as a whole, will rationally seek to exploit for profit any
opportunity it can. As is the case in lawful markets, the ability of a
particular participant to seize an opportunity will depend on their
access to the resources (e.g. connections, expertise, capital) needed
to successfully take advantage of the opportunity.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
132
The opportunities for profitable unlawful enterprise are far broader
than are the opportunities available to legitimate business. That is
what attracts criminals to organised crime.
Criminal trade in commodities and/or services is, by definition,
unregulated in the conventional sense. As a result, opportunities
exist for arbitrage between markets and for exploitation of monopoly
positions, that do not exist in lawful markets. Trading in prohibited
goods tilts the ‘supply and demand’ balance hugely in favour of the
supplier, and allows vast profit margins to be commanded. Activities
are also far less exposed to regulatory compliance costs and taxation.
Huge profits
These simple facts mean illegal trade offers huge profit potential to
those who have the right contacts; who are willing to take risks to link
supply with demand; who are willing to use tactics such as violence,
intimidation and corruption to secure their market position; and who
are well enough organised to succeed.
However, it is important to appreciate that organised crime does not
confine itself to illegal enterprise and illicit markets. As the Criminal
Intelligence Service Canada observes:
The vast majority of organised crime groups use or exploit
the legitimate economy to some degree. In this way, they are
able to insulate their activities, launder proceeds of crime and
commit financial crimes via a legitimate front. Both individuals
and businesses are vulnerable to numerous targeted fraud
schemes including telemarketing schemes and stock market
manipulation. As well, legitimate business can unwittingly
facilitate criminal activity by providing opportunities for the
investment of proceeds of crime or to disguise illicit activities
through techniques such as mixing counterfeit goods with
legitimate shipments.8
Wealth flows to and from legitimate businesses, motivated both by
objectives of money laundering, and also profit making. Large sums
of capital are available to organised crime, which can be switched
into ‘boom’ markets such as property (especially where network
connections provide opportunities to skew or manipulate those
‘legitimate’ markets).
In the blunt assessment of the Criminal Intelligence Service
Canada:
”Wherever there is profit to be made, organised crime can be
found.”9
6. Organised crime is opportunistic and adaptable.
Overseas experience shows that almost any high-value market
is attractive to organised crime groups. By and large, successful
organised crime participants are economically rational in their
business decision-making.
As a result, organised crime is constantly moving to seize new
opportunities. Generally speaking, when a participant judges its
resources (such as people, connections, and capital) can deliver
better profits through another activity, the participant will tend to
change its activities to chase the profits.
The Australian Crime Commission has described the flexibility of
organised crime networks, exploiting market opportunities in that
country, as follows:
8 Organised Crime in Canada, Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, Annual Report 2007.
9 Ibid.
June 2010
Organised crime is diverse and flexible. It pervades all parts of
society and the economy, easily adapting to changing threats
and new opportunities…
Most organised crime groups are well resourced and
influential. These groups are able to expand and contract their
operations quickly, may operate in single or multiple industries
and be involved in single or multiple activities. Some crime
groups plan for their future by sending members to university
or other training courses to acquire the specialist skills needed
to support their criminal activity.10
Opportunity
In the mid-1990s, just as organised crime networks were growing
more sophisticated and adaptable, New Zealand Police fraud and
drug squads were closed down in many parts of the country. This
immediately became common knowledge in the criminal world, and
organised crime moved deliberately to exploit the new opportunities.
individuals linked to Black Power in particular moved heavily into
cheque fraud, identity fraud, mortgage fraud, and insurance fraud,
largely utilising female associates and partners as fronts. Other gangs
intensified their involvement in drug importation, manufacture and
distribution.
The diverse range of profit-making business activities, of course,
generates considerable wealth for organised crime: more than the
criminals can spend on a lavish lifestyle alone. So what happens to
that wealth? In next month’s issue, Police News continues its series
by looking at money laundering, corruption, and the challenges facing
policing of serious organised crime.
10 Organised Crime in Australia, Australian Crime Commission, 2007 Edition
Heroin: the next big thing?
Exactly one year ago, Police News warned
of a resurgence in ‘homebake heroin’ use
(June 2009).
Our sources were informing us then that
some users were already looking for an
alternative to methamphetamine, in the
hope of escaping the clutches of the
violence and intimidation that goes along
with the P trade. At the same time, some
in the organised crime controlled drug
trade were looking to diversify by cultivating
a new market for heroin among their
regular P customers. Information passed
to us suggests some methamphetamine
suppliers have even offered a ‘free’ dose of
heroin to customers buying three ‘points’,
or doses, of P, recommending it as a way
to ‘take the edge off’ the comedown from
a P binge.
A story in Christchurch newspaper The Press
on 29 April seems to confirm this worrying
trend. The newspaper reported that police,
health professionals and drug counsellors
have all noticed a rise in the number of young
people smoking, or ‘spotting’, liquid heroin
from tinfoil.
More addicts
According to The Press, Canterbury District
Health Board’s Community Alcohol and Drug
Service clinical head confirmed more young
people were becoming addicted to opiates,
saying: “We have seen an upsurge in younger
people in their late teens and early 20s who
are smoking opiates. There has been a
definite rise.”
For now, most of the available street heroin
in New Zealand appears to be homebake
manufactured from diverted prescription
drugs.
With international heroin prices at historic
lows, street product in many parts of the
world is now of reliably high enough purity
to smoke or snort, rather than injecting the
drug. This makes it more marketable to
users accustomed to smoking or snorting
drugs like methamphetamine. Other
overseas trends point towards combined
use of P and heroin as a highly potent ‘meth
speedball.’
With heroin able to be sourced from the
same offshore markets as New Zealand’s
imported methamphetamine precursors,
organised crime will quickly move to supply
any new market for the drug in this country.
That is real cause for alarm.
Where do they get the time?
You wonder where they get the time but somewhere there must be a room full of people dealing with this sort of stuff – thinking up
jokes at the expense of the latest celebrity who has fallen from grace or, as in the instances listed below, the clever bod who has
rearranged the letters of some fairly common words to form anagrams as follows:
PRESBYTERIAN: BEST IN PRAYER
SLOT MACHINES: CASH LOST IN ME
ASTRONOMER: MOON STARER
ANIMOSITY: IS NO AMITY
DESPERATION: A ROPE ENDS IT
ELECTION RESULTS: LIES - LET’S RECOUNT
THE EYES: THEY SEE
SNOOZE ALARMS: ALAS! NO MORE Z ‘S
GEORGE BUSH: HE BUGS GORE
A DECIMAL POINT: I’M A DOT IN PLACE
THE MORSE CODE: HERE COME DOTS
THE EARTHQUAKES: THAT QUEER SHAKE
DORMITORY: DIRTY ROOM
ELEVEN PLUS TWO: TWELVE PLUS ONE
June 2010
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PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Obituary:
John (Jack) Robert Duncan Craig (Life Member)
One of the NZ Police Association’s most
highly respected Life Members, Jack
Craig, died recently aged 96.
It is hard to comprehend how long Jack
has been part of the New Zealand Police
Association. Jack joined the Police in
early 1936 and was posted to Dunedin
on the 20th of May the same year.
Ironically, that is the same day that the
then Minister of Police, Peter Fraser,
said he would “consider favourably” the
formation of a Police Association.
Shortly after arriving, Jack made his
first arrest. Sarah Elizabeth Smith was
charged with being drunk in a public
place after causing a disturbance. Jack
had to catch a tram to make the arrest
and when he arrived, he found Sarah
legless and escorted her back to the
station.
Character
On one of her many appearances in
court the magistrate, Justice Blundell,
no doubt frustrated by the continued
reappearance of Smith in his courtroom,
asked her why she was continually
drunk. “Well, your Honour,” Smith
replied “I knew it was your birthday so I
thought it fitting to celebrate it in style.”
While Smith obviously had problems
holding her liquor, Jack recalls her
with some fondness: “She wasn’t a
nasty drunk, she was a real character, a
happy drunk. Basically, we arrested her
for her own safety. She was never any
bother to anyone and was usually fined
five shillings and sent on her way,”
Jack said. “She was a kindly soul as she
used to darn all the single men’s clothes
when she was in the jail,” he added.
When Sarah Smith died the Otago Daily
Times gave her a significant obituary.
First meeting
Jack was at the first meeting of the
Dunedin branch of the Police Association later that year when Senior
Detective Bruce Young was elected
chairman. Young later served as the
President of the Police Association
between 1938-43, taking over from
Detective Bill Murray, the first President.
Jack was involved in Police Association
134
June 2010
activities as a member of the Dunedin
District Committee from 1947-1974
including being secretary from 1969.
He served as a National Councillor from
1965-1969.
He was the fifth recipient of a Life
Membership of the New Zealand Police
Association in 1974 and at the time was
simply described as a “stalwart of the
Association”. During the 75-year history
of the Police Association only 28 people
have been awarded a Life Membership,
13 of whom survive Jack.
Beat work
When Jack started in the Police, police
officers walked the beat every day and
were paid at a daily rate of 11 Shillings
($1.10). There was no day off – they
worked seven days a week. They did a
fortnight of night shifts followed by a
fortnight of day shifts. It wasn’t until
the1950s that our members got a day
off each week.
Jack was always highly regarded by his
peers and acted as ”advisor and father
confessor” to many police officers.
During that time he had shown his
worth as “a balancing factor in all
discussions”. He was a man who was
regarded by his peers as a person who
spoke commonsense when those around
him, mostly the Police administration,
did not.
Jack retired after 38 years service in May
1974. He later told Police News in an
interview: “I started work 38 years earlier
at 4.30 p.m. and I knocked off exactly
38 years later, to the minute, in the same
office”. Jack a modest man, did not want
any fuss. He had not wanted a farewell
function but his colleagues insisted and
fortunately won the day.
Association work
During his time as an Association
stalwart, Jack worked extensively with
Jack Meltzer, a lawyer, who served as
National Secretary from 1940 to 1966.
Jack Meltzer, supported by Jack Craig,
was instrumental in establishing a death
benefit scheme for members. The initial
payment was set at £25 ($50) and
gradually through the years this was
increased to £50 pounds ($100). Jack
• JACK CRAIG (Life Member and one of
nature’s gentleman): Fondly remembered
for his commonsense approach and his
tireless work on behalf of Association
members for many years.
recalled later that another Dunedin rep,
Tommy Thomson, fought tooth and nail
to get the death benefit raised and rather
ironically, shortly after being successful,
his widow was the first one to collect
it. “I think Tommy must have known a
thing or two,” Jack once told me.
Current members of Police owe a
significant amount of gratitude to what
Jack and others achieved, as the death
benefit started by Jack and his peers is
now worth up to $180,000 for serving
police officers.
Impetus for a pension
He was also instrumental in following
through with one of the founding aims
of the Police Association – to provide a
pension for police officers when they
retired at the age of 65. By the time Jack
retired at 60, they had been successful
in gaining that pension. Jack continued
to receive this pension for 35 years
after his retirement, which is almost as
long as his Police service. It was a just
outcome for a man who had devoted a
lot of his time for the benefit of others
in the job.
Jack told me in 2005 that he didn’t
envy today’s police officers. “Things are
a lot harder now, and I doubt whether
I’d cut the mustard,” he quipped.
Jack was present to celebrate the 70th
anniversary of the Police Association in
October 2005 and was honoured along
with other Life Members during those
celebrations.
Had what it took
Anyone who ever met him would have
little doubt that Jack Craig, Life Member
and stalwart supporter of the NZ Police
Association, former Junior Constable
of Dunedin and before that “a country
lad at heart” would have little trouble
measuring up if he could have his time
again. After such lengthy service on
behalf of the community he served, his
colleagues and others, there is no doubt
that he had all the qualities it takes in
abundance.
I met him when he was 91. I wish I’d
met him earlier as he was a mine of
information. I went to interview him
at a Levin retirement home and I knew
immediately I was in the company
of someone very special – a thorough
gentleman. He reminded me very much
of the late Dave Paterson, another
Life Member and long-time friend of
mine who also worked tirelessly for
Association members.
Indoor bowls
Jack gave me a guided tour of the
facilities at the home and when we
entered the room where the indoor
bowls were set up he asked if I’d “like a
roll up”. He then proceeded to beat me
soundly, as I recall. I couldn’t think of
anyone I’d sooner lose to, as he was a
great sport and very complimentary of
my beginner’s effort. I went away with a
smile on my face and I suspect I wasn’t
the first to leave this wonderful man’s
presence like that.
Jack’s son, John, followed in his
father’s footsteps and became a police
officer. He is now retired. The family
policing tradition continues, however,
through a grandson, Sergeant Michael
(John) Craig, who serves at Ohakune.
Another grandson, Colin, also served at
Paraparaumu and is now retired.
John, Bev, Ron, Craig, Janette,
Colin, Michael, Jacqui and Jack’s
great grandchildren survive Jack.
The Association offers its sincerest
condolences on behalf of our members
past and present to the Craig family on
the loss of such a wonderful man, who
contributed so much to our members
over such a lengthy period of time. May
he rest in peace. - By Steve Plowman.
Plaque to honour Len Snee unveiled in Napier
Family, friends, colleagues and
dignitaries paid homage to Senior
Constable Len Snee one year on from
the Napier siege, which claimed his life,
when a memorial plaque was unveiled
at Napier Police Station at a dawn
ceremony on May 7.
Police Minister Judith Collins, Deputy
Police Commissioner Rob Pope, and
Police Association President, Greg
O’Connor were among those who
attended the ceremony. Ms Collins
The late Senior Constable Len Snee. spoke about how difficult Mr Snee’s
death had been to come to terms with.
themselves on the line, to stand up for
what is right and make a difference.
“No words can take away our sorrow
or our sense of loss, but we can take
this time to honour the legacy of a
man deeply admired for his strength,
courage and compassion, a man who
led by example and did not shrink from
his duty,” she said.
“Our lives are made richer for
the precious time we have these
extraordinary people with us,” she said.
Reminder of sacrifice
Ms Collins said Mr Snee reminded us
that in an uncertain world, there are
still those who are prepared to put
During the three-day Napier siege
in May 2009, gunman Jan Molenaar
shot Senior Constable Snee dead and
seriously wounded Senior Constables
Bruce Miller and Grant Diver after they
had issued him with a routine search
warrant and indicated that they were to
search his house for drugs. Police later
found Molenaar dead in his home.
The plaque to honour Len Snee’s life with floral tributes in the foreground.
- Photos courtesy of Graham Morrell (Napier Police Forensic Photography).
June 2010
135
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
noticeable change in the stats. We sure can’t rely on the commercial
alcohol outlets to do it. They just see the money leaving when that
customer staggers out the door.
True blood
Ashes to ashes
One of our big brass was in Norway recently and was busy checking
out the gun boxes in police cars, when a small Icelandic volcano went
ballistic over the continent and he had to suffer a few more days of
Norwegian hospitality. Good on him, I say. The research trip was a
damn good idea, and I’m not just blowing smoke up his proverbial
either when I say that. We need as much help on the frontline as we
can get, and the more we look at the successes and failures of others,
the better our options will be.
Commonsense reigns...
Gun boxes aren’t going to be much good though if you can’t draw the
weapon. For once reason has prevailed, and the powers-that-be have
shelved the proposed three tiered training for firearms known as the
DRM (Differential Response Model). What with the PLR (Peak Loading
Roster), it was a match destined to fail. If all the back office mates were
level three trained (in other words, not at all) there wasn’t much point
in putting them in an armed ‘I’ car. Lordy, the bosses have worked out
that investing in their frontline resources (that’s us of course) gives the
best bang for their buck.
What’s all this about vampires up there in the Twilight Zone? No,
not the kind that suck the life blood out of the legal aid system, but
the kidnapping-biting-sort. A lot of planning must go into this kind of
assault, the drugs, the moon, the $2 shop cape…not to mention the
poor unsuspecting mortal. Maybe we need to arm our colleagues up
there with crucifixes. Frankly, I’d prefer a Taser. One zap from that
would be sure to rattle the plastic fangs right off ‘em.
Southern sting
It’s coming down to the wire at Super 14 time as I write this and my
mighty Crusaders unfortunately had to bow to the rampaging Bulls on
home turf in South Africa and missed the final. Don’t forget though that
my All Blacks are back, led by one of our own (A good southern man of
course), showing the Irish how things will go next year!
Take care out there, and look after
ya mates.
See ya!
Police hockey team
seeking players
Any Police personnel wishing to play in the upcoming Services
Hockey tournament in Palmerston North on the 10th, 11th
and 12th August for the NZ Police men’s hockey team should
forward their details including current playing status and any
relevant previous playing experience to
[email protected]
Back to the PLR trial though, seems there are just as many jobs being
cancelled in the Garden City as before. Word has it the extra staff are
not being used where old-fashioned beat work might actually make
a difference. Maybe if we get them boys and girls out there rounding
up the drunken yobbos and sending them home we’d see some
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Clues:
June 2010
10
11
12
13
14
17
20
15
18
16
19
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Answers:
Across: 1. Snare 4. Damages 8. Arson 9. Arrival 10. Sum 11. Cool 12. Ideal 14. Added
15. Seems 20. Spree 21. A.S.A.P 22. Bus 24. Dialect 25. Where 26. Relieve 27. Bases
136
Down:
1. Take a handbag illegally?
2. Run away
3. Periods of time
5. An assassin is one
6. Judges order form?
7. Good form of DNA.
9. Amongst
13. Search and find stolen property
16. Perfects? Prefects or just teachers?
17. Used to develop latent prints
18. Owed
19. Illegally drives over the limit
20. No big
23. Used to gather DNA?
Down: 1. Snatch 2. Abscond 3. Eons 5. Murderer 6. Gavel 7. Saliva 9. Amid 13.
Retrieve 16. Masters 17. Powder 18. Debt 19. Speeds 20. Small 23. Swab
Across:
1. To trap?
4. A thousand adages together make
ordered costs
8. Sonar sets illegal fire
9. Incoming passenger
10. Total
11. To ice down
12. Perfect
14. Put into
15. Appears
20. Describes a one person crime wave
21. As soon as possible
22. Form of transport
24. Citadel breaks apart to form a type of
language
25. Unknown location to some?
26. Take over another position for the time
being
27. First and second are two of four
9
Association hosts Office Holders’ Tool Kit Course
To ensure Association representatives
receive adequate training and support
in their job, the New Zealand Police
Association recently hosted a newly
updated Officer Holders’ Tool Kit
Course at Capital House in Wellington.
The course ran from April 27 to 30
with chairpersons, vice-chairpersons
and some secretaries from Association
committees around the country in
attendance.
The four-day course covered modules
on Representing Members, Performance
Management, Code of Conduct and
Legal Assistance.
• LEARNING THE ROPES: (Back row): Jared Cuff, Graham Hoskin, Doug Peach, Richard
Lindsay, Craig Barker, Bill Talbot, Tom Romans, Steve Webber, Emiel Logan. (Front row):
John Simes, Damien Graves, Mokai McCarthy, Wayne Hunter, Amanda Craig, Lesley McRae,
Fiona Opray, Karen Roberts, Nathan White, and Mike Thomas.
Participants were also encouraged to
interact, discuss and practice the new
skill sets they learned on the course.
The Association’s legal team, as well as
Wellington and Central District Field
Officers and Industrial Officers, also
presented modules throughout the
course.
The two course facilitators were Senior
Industrial Officer Amanda Craig and
Human Resources Advisor Lesley
McRae.
Ms McRae said the general consensus
was that the course was very worthwhile
and extremely valuable.
The Association aims to hold the course
annually.
Memorial wall
Our sympathies to all our members’ families for those who have passed away in recent months…
We remember…
Who passed away…
HEMOPO Tewhanauho NeriRetired member
18-Nov-09
Porirua
HUGHES Graeme NeilRetired member
20-Apr-10Katikati
TRAPPITT Edward JohnRetired member
3-May-10
CRAIG John Robert DuncanLife Member
4-May-10Levin
PATERSON Ian CharlesLife Member
16-May-10Hamilton
Paraparaumu
Useful Information & Contacts
New Zealand Police Association:
For immediate industrial & legal advice
(on matters that cannot be deferred such as
Police shootings, fatal pursuits or deaths in
custody) ring 0800 TEN NINE
(0800 836 6463)
– 24 hour/seven days service
Police Network
44446
Website
Freephone
0800 500 122
Police Home Loans
Police Health Plan/Police Fire and General Insurance Police Credit Union Quotes & information
0800 500 122
or (04) 472 9645
or Fax
(04) 496 6819
Credit Union
Police Fire and General Insurance claims 0800 110 088GSF information All enquiries
(04) 496 6800
PSS information
Vice Presidents
Stuart Mills Chris Cahill www.policecu.org.nz
0800 654 731
0800 777 243
Regional Directors
(027) 268 9416
(027) 268 9411
Field Officers
Auckland District:Stewart Mills
Waitemata and Northland Districts:Steve Hawkins
Waikato, BOP and Eastern Districts:Graeme McKay
Central and Wellington Districts:
JJ Taylor
Tasman and Canterbury Districts:Dave McKirdy
Southern DistrictDave Steel
www.policeassn.org.nz
0800 800 808
0800 429 000
(027) 268 9407
(027) 268 9406
(027) 268 9408
(027) 268 9409
(027) 268 9410
(027) 268 9427
Region One
Jug PriceWhangaparaoa
Region TwoDave Pizzini Counties-Manukau
Region ThreeMel RidleyTauranga
Region FourLuke ShadboltHastings
Region FiveRon LekWellington
Region Six
Craig PriorSydenham
Region SevenBrett RobertsDunedin
(027) 268 9419
(027) 268 9413
(027) 268 9414
(027) 478 9001
(027) 268 9417
(027) 268 9412
(027) 268 9418
June 2010
137
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
“A ship in the harbour is safe,
but that’s not what
ships are built for.”
William Shedd
Risk in moderation is not to be feared.
of these things have an element of
Rather it should be embraced as an
risk. Investing is the same. The aim is
ingredient that is necessary to achieving
to control or limit the risk by applying
something worthwhile. Whether building
sensible strategies so the outcome has
a relationship, a business or a career, all
a greater chance for success.
Spicers provide Police Welfare Fund members access to quality financial planning, investment
and superannuation advice at specially negotiated rates. Phone 0800 ON BEAT (0800 66 2328)
138
A disclosure statement is available on request and free of charge.
Investment pearls of wisdom
By Spicers, providers of Police Financial Planning.
One secret to successful investing is to buy low and sell high. While there
are no guarantees when it comes to investing, if you apply the following
principles you should do just fine.
If it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is
If you ever hear the phrase ‘low risk, high
return’ then stand back and have a very close
look at what’s on offer. If someone is offering
you a higher return than what is available
elsewhere in the market, then ‘sure as eggs’
there will be additional risk involved. It may
not be apparent in fancy charts showing a
series of historic returns or in the advertising
literature, but there’ll be risk embedded in
there somewhere. If you don’t feel qualified to
analyse what’s on offer yourself, ask someone
who is and whom you trust.
Spread your risk by diversifying
A lack of diversification is a common mistake
made by investors. Don’t put all your eggs in
one basket. If you have a mix of investments,
such as property, shares, fixed interest and
cash, then you are more likely to even out
your investment returns over time, even if
your investments are affected by short-term
volatility in a particular sector. Perhaps the
most important lesson some investors will
learn from the latest financial crisis is that they
should have been even more diversified than
they were.
Establish a financial plan
Financial planning is a must do to become
well-to-do. Focus first on what will make you
happy and then the wealth side will fall into
place. What are your wants and needs? When
do you want to retire? What kind of income do
you need? Once you know these answers, then
you can make a plan. Research has shown that
people who rate themselves as highly satisfied
with their lives also have a sense of feeling
in control of their financial situation – and a
financial plan.
Research your options
Investing blindly is asking for trouble. Do your
homework. A lot of investors will spend more
time planning their holiday on the Internet
than researching their investments or working
with a good financial adviser who can provide
qualified guidance.
Good advice is invaluable
With the seemingly infinite number of
investment opportunities available today,
selecting an investment that will make the
most of your money can be difficult. When
making investment decisions for your
hard-earned cash, enlisting the services of a
qualified financial adviser can prove invaluable.
Patience is a virtue
When investing, it’s important to remember
that patience is a virtue. Investing for the
long-term can give the benefit of long-term
market appreciation and compounding returns.
Patience means sticking to your investment
strategy and not letting short-term volatility
deter you from the achievement of your longterm goals.
Just do it
Whatever your circumstances, no matter how
much money you have, take the opportunity to
get good advice about how to invest wisely for
your future.
Spicers provide Police Welfare Fund
members access to quality financial
planning, investment and superannuation
advice at specially negotiated rates.
Phone 0800 ON BEAT (0800 66 2328).
Buying a new home or
refinancing can be an expensive
process, even with today’s low interest
rates. We aim to make it easier on
Police Welfare Fund members’ pockets.
So for a limited time those drawing down
a new Police Home Loan will be eligible
for six months free home insurance
through the Welfare Fund’s Police Fire &
General Insurance*.
Members eligible for the free cover
should contact our Member Services
Team on 0800 500 122. You will need a
copy of your loan document from
The National Bank or ANZ.
Police Home Loan Package
Whether you’re refinancing, buying your
first home, selling, investing in property,
building or looking for ways to manage
your current home loan – a Police Home
Loan through The National Bank or ANZ
may be able to help.
The Police Welfare Fund Home Loan
package provides attractive benefits to
Police Welfare Fund members and their
immediate family, like:
•No Home Loan application fee
•A contribution of $500 towards legal fees
•A small fee of $100 for a top-up on an
existing loan
For borrowing 80% or lower of a property’s
value:
•0.50% pa off the standard National Bank
or ANZ Floating and Flexible Home Loan
interest rates
•The lowest possible rate on fixed interest
rate loans without having to negotiate and
regardless of your loan size
Our Police Welfare Fund Home Loan
package is highly competitive and flexible.
For more information or to apply for the Police
Welfare Fund Home Loan Package visit
www.policeassn.org.nz
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (American essayist and philosopher).
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that
survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
- Charles Darwin (English scientist).
“Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.”
- Kahlil Gibran (Acclaimed Lebanese poet, artist and writer).
The National Bank and ANZ’s lending criteria, terms, conditions and fees apply. For
borrowing over 80% of a property’s value, a low equity premium on a graduated
scale will apply, and a registered valuer’s report will be required. Eligibilty to apply for
a Police Home Loan package is at the discretion of the Police Welfare Fund Limited
and applicants must be current members of the Fund. This home loan package is not
available for low documentation home loans or loans approved through a broker. For
a copy of The National Bank or ANZ Disclosure Statement and full details (including
terms and conditions) contact any branch of The National Bank of New Zealand (part
of ANZ Bank Limited) nor the ANZ.
*Police Fire & General Insurance will be subject to the standard underwriting
terms and conditions and is provided through the Police Welfare Fund not by
The National Bank or ANZ. Members are eligible for one period of six months free
Police Fire & General Home Insurance premium only, per member, regardless of the
term of Police Home Loan taken. Police Fire & General Insurance is underwritten by
Lumley General Insurance (NZ) Limited.
06-2010
June 2010
139
Police Council of Sport
To contact the Police Council of Sport, call Sharon Gold at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139 (Ext: 43139)
Conder captures fifth cross-country title
The NZ Police cross-country champs were run at the Kihikihi Domain
in Te Awamutu last month and defending men’s champion Rob Conder
(Wanganui) collected his fifth title in the last decade when he won the
9,000 metres open men’s race in an impressive 34 minutes.
Wanganui got the quinella when Jason Page finished second, just 21
seconds behind Conder with the game New Plymouth runner Tony
Brownrigg home third in 35.08.
Amy Robertson (Hastings) took out the women’s open championship
over 6,000 metres in a time of 29.06 with Candice Howe (Hamilton)
second in 30.57 and Auckland’s Ilona Walton third in 32.12.
Canterbury runners dominate
Canterbury runners dominated the Veteran Men’s and Women’s titles.
The Veteran Men’s (40-plus) event saw Mike Wilson (Canterbury) go
one better than last year in winning the 9,000m event in 38.08 while
Wanganui’s Karl Rowe (40.06) was the runner-up, 38 seconds in front
of Hamilton’s Scott Miller.
second in 30.00 with Maria Anderton (Te Awamutu) home third in
32.24.
The racing attracted 62 competitors across the various divisions. It
was a fast, flat course with several equestrian jumps thrown in for
good measure. By all accounts, the small hills became ‘mountains’
after each 3 km loop.
Runaway victory
Michael Morgan (Manukau) scored a runaway win in the Draught Horse
(95 kilograms-plus runners) race – running faster than last year in the
process – to take the event in 26.08 for the 6,000m with Hamilton’s
Jason Earl second in 29.04 and Bryan Smith (Flaxmere) was third in
29.28.
New Brighton’s Sarah Blair won the Veteran Women’s (35-plus) race
over 6,000m in 27.46 while Palmerston North’s Carolyn Martin was
Mark (“Chills”) Chillingworth (Wanganui), who has been heavily
involved with the organisation of many Police cross-country teams and
races over a long period of time, showed his versatility by switching
from running to take out the walkers’ race over 3,000m in a smart
23.13 with Ben Tongalea (Auckland) second in 24 minutes even with
Cathy Ahuriri (North Shore) third in 24.55.
• Inspector Paul Carpenter awards Mike Wilson the Veteran’s trophy.
• Rob Conder winner of the senior men’s race over 9,000 metres.
Visit www.policeassn.org.nz for updated contact details for the Police Council of Sport management committee,
District Sports Officers and the latest schedule of events.
140
June 2010
Organisers later honoured Mark for his outstanding contribution
to Police running when he was given a special Police Associationsponsored prize. Mark was also the MC on the night.
Chillingworth took first place in a quick time of 23.13mins over 3k’s
and the team named The Unfits won first place against the Comms
Squad in a time of 51.18mins.
The team’s event, in which three runners ran one lap of the 3,000m
circuit each, saw The Unfits (51.18) from Hastings triumph over
Comms Squad (Auckland) in 60.53.
Great help
A large contingent of helpers including Maori Wardens, who assisted
with course marshalling, Te Awamutu College students, who assisted
other members of the Police with timekeeping and other locals turned
up to lend a hand.
Hastings will host the 2011 championships.
• Tony Brownrigg of New Plymouth is closely followed by Jason Page
of Wanganui as they traverse one of the jumps.
• Mark Chillingworth, winner of the walker’s race.
Police softball seeking players
Softball players are needed for the 2010 Inter-Services, the 2010 Club Nationals Tournament,
and the 2012 World Emergency Games.
The team is calling for men and women, sworn or non-sworn, who would like to be part of a
Police softball team.
If you are interested please contact Constable Calvyn Wilson ([email protected].
nz) or Constable Scott Dixon ([email protected]).
Past tournaments
These upcoming tournaments follow on from last year’s Inter-Services Softball Tournament,
which was held at the Whenuapai Air Force Base in Auckland. The Air Force hosted the
tournament.
This was the first time since 1995 that Police had a presence at that tournament.
The team consisted of Police staff from all over the country including Christchurch, Auckland,
Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki. Detective Sergeant John Love, the current Junior Black
Sox coach, coached the team.
Playing the game
Having been out of softball in the Services for 14 years, there was some degree of trepidation
as to what the Police team would be able to bring to the tournament.
However, despite losing their first game to the Army by a single run the Police team did not
disappoint. Dominant wins over both the Navy and Air Force teams followed, which led to the
Police team being the number one seeds for the championship round. During this round, Police
were pushed hard by the Army and Air Force teams respectively but strong batting and skillful
fielding saw the Police team hold out both their rivals and become the tournament champions.
South Island Police
Lawn Bowls
Tournament 2010
The South Island Lawn Bowls Tournament
for this year will be held at the Ashburton
Bowling Club, The Domain, Ashburton,
on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th
November.
Teams will consist of four players, two
players shall be serving, retired or nonsworn members of the Police, male or
female. One of these players must be the
Skip for the team.
Accommodation arrangements will accompany the official registration form in
conjunction with a Police Council of Sport
membership application form for those
who are not currently paid-up financial
members.
Players are reminded of their obligations to
the Police Council of Sport.
For further information, please contact:
Roger Gutberlet, 8 Middle Road, Ashburton.
Roger’s Email is: [email protected]
June 2010
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PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Life’s a beach for the 6th Annual
Police Surf Championships
Fine weather and consistent clean waves
ensured that the 6th Annual Police Surf
Championships were a complete success.
The event was held at Omanu Beach,
Mount Maunganui. Eighty-eight (88) surfers
competed.
The first day’s competition saw surfers
enjoy the heats of On Ya Guts, Novice and
Longboard divisions in clean two-foot waves.
The second day produced a swell, which
produced tidy left and right banks of clean,
faced and excellent shaped three and half
foot waves.
A large crowd turned out for the final heats
on day three, which featured some overhead
sets.
Getting results
Standout performers were Wiremu Rakatau,
who went on to win the Men’s Open, and
Scott Pitkethley, who won both the Longboard
and Over 40s divisions.
• GREAT SERVICE: Grant Coward (middle) receives the hand carved stone trophy for Services
to Police Surfing from contest organiser Loyd Buckley (right) and stone mason Paul Gautron
(left). Paul carved and donated the award.
Gina Samson, who won the Women’s Open,
and Rob Cameron, who won a close final in
the Over 50s, were other star performers.
The prizegiving was held at the Omanu Surf
Club, which saw a “Sea of Green” as 200
competitors, families, friends and sponsors
enjoyed St Patrick’s night.
Special mention
Following the presentations to divisional
finalists, contest organiser Loyd Buckley
presented a special trophy to Grant Coward
for his continued services to surfing within
the NZ Police.
Grant started it all in 2005 and ran the first
two contests in Taranaki.
• OPEN FINALISTS: Wiremu Rakatau (1st), Todd Hilleard (2nd), Dane Eccles-Smith and
Geoffrey Pardoe (3rd).
Colin and Jan McKenny, who were assistant
organisers of the event, said that this year’s
competition was the most relaxed and
enjoyable surfing contest they had ever been
involved with.
Next year’s contest will be hosted by
Northland.
Results:
Open Men: 1. Wiremu Rakatau (Auckland),
Todd Hilleard (Tauranga), 3. Geoffrey Pardoe
(Gisborne).
Over 50s: 1. Rob Cameron (Northland), 2.
Loyd Buckley (Tauranga), 3. Mike Gowen
(Tauranga).
Longboard: 1. Scott Pitkethley (Gisborne),
2. Wiremu Rakatau (Auckland), 3. Nigel
Henstock (Gisborne).
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June 2010
• AGE NO BARRIER: Over-50s Masters competitors Loyd Buckley (2ND), Grant Coward,
Mike Gowen (3rd), Rob Cameron (1ST) and Tim Smith.
Novice: 1. Whiti TimuTimu (Gisborne), 2. Tina Smallman (Gisborne), 3.
Andy Bernsten (Tauranga).
Women: 1. Gina Samson (Gisborne), 2. Whiti TimuTimu (Gisborne), 3.
Tina Smallman (Gisborne).
On Ya Guts: Leanne Wakelin (Gisborne), 2. Dean Barnes (Taupo), 3.
Ray Dunbar (Taupo).
Over 40s: 1. Scott Pitkethley (Gisborne), 2. Carl Neustroski (Gisborne),
3. Bill Dawson (Northland).
Best Wave: 1. Loyd Buckley (Tauranga).
Services to Police surfing award: Grant Coward (Taranaki).
Facing the music
Instead of patrolling the city in their cars, police in the United States
are trawling Facebook, MySpace and Craigslist to catch criminals,
and it’s working, according to a story carried by FoxNews.com.
There was the Florida man convicted of murdering his friend: he
posted pictures of his victim on MySpace next to the words “rest in
peace” hours before the victim’s death was even reported.
A 19-year-old was arrested and charged with burglary after a
woman found her home ransacked, her jewellery stolen and the
burglar’s Facebook account open on her home computer.
Then there was the Los Angeles graffiti vandal who became an
Internet sensation after posting videos on YouTube of his handiwork.
One fugitive was living abroad - kicking back on the beaches of
Cancun, Mexico, by day, partying in the clubs by night - until he
started posting Facebook updates about how much fun he was
having - and added a former Justice Department official to his list
of friends.
Footnote: Police News published a story reminding members of
the dangers of posting personal information and opinions on social
networking websites in its January/February issue.
• NICE BOARD: Victoria Guseva from Waihi with the High Voltage
Longboard spot prize she won.
West Australian Police Union of Workers impressed
with Police Association’s holiday home system
Professionalising the way they do things has led the Western
Australian Police Union of Workers (WAPUW) to the New Zealand
Police Association’s doorstep.
WAPUW members recently visited the Police Association to gain
insights into our holiday home and membership systems as they look
to revamp their own systems.
had been a great opportunity to formalise the reciprocal access of
holiday homes the two unions already share.
“It’s great because their members can use our holiday homes, while
we can use theirs and you don’t have to give any more than three
months’ notice to secure one,” Mr Hayes said.
The Australian union considers the NZ Police Association the most
advanced Police union holiday home system in the Southern
Hemisphere.
WAPUW General Manager Ken See said he had been very impressed
with the Association’s holiday homes and how they were run.
“The online booking system is something we are very interested in
and it was great to visit your holiday home in Greytown,” he told Police
News.
“Not only are we looking to grow our portfolio of holiday homes we are
also looking to professionalise the ones we already have. So we will be
looking to employ some caretakers in the near future,” he said.
NZ Police Association Welfare Fund Manager Pete Hayes said the visit
• AUSSIES TAKE A LEAF FROM OUR BOOK: (From left to right): WAPUW General Manager Ken See, WAPUW Director George
Tilbury, WAPUW General Treasurer Merv Lockhart and the NZ
Police Association’s Welfare Fund Manager Pete Hayes.
June 2010
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PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
NZ Police Basketball
2010 Duncan Taylor Memorial Tournament
(please note date change)
The 2010 Duncan Taylor Memorial Basketball Tournament is to be
held in Napier on Friday 6th to Saturday 7th August. The tournament is
the sixth since 2005, with each year getting bigger and better. Police
Council of Sport sponsorship ensures accommodation and meals will
be provided for participants from outside Napier. Participants are
responsible for meeting their own travel costs and tournament fee.
While there has traditionally been spirited competition for the
Duncan Taylor Memorial Trophy, the tournament is principally about
participation, acknowledgement of Duncan’s contribution to basketball,
and recognition of his ultimate sacrifice.
When:
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th August, 2010. (New date)
Where: Pettigrew Arena, Napier.
Who:
All current sworn and non-sworn staff are eligible.
This year an invitation has been extended to ex-Police staff
to participate by providing a men’s and a women’s team.
Teams: Men’s & Women’s
Four regions based on existing district boundaries,
including Service Centres located therein.
Northern (Northland, Waitemata, Auckland City & Counties
Manukau Districts and AMCOS).
Waikato/Eastern (Waikato, Bay of Plenty & Eastern Districts).
Wellington/Central (Central & Wellington Districts and
OoC, RNZPC, PIB).
Southern (Tasman, Canterbury & Southern Districts).
Past police members
Regions are encouraged to enter more than one team.
The organisers are hoping for eight men’s teams and four
women’s teams.
Contacts: Southern - Gordon Meyer (Sydenham).
Wellington/Central – Jason McCarthy (Upper Hutt).
Waikato/BoP/Eastern – Nicholas Stark (Hamilton).
Northern – John Hughes (AMCOS, Drug Squad).
Ex-Police members - Maui Aben (Gisborne)
Players should contact their regional representative.
For further information about the tournament, please contact
Maui Aben (Gisborne) via Email ([email protected])
Outtrim and Gray take honours at
National Darts Tournament
The 35th Annual NZ Police Association
National Darts Tournament was held recently
at Petone, just north of Wellington.
Tournament organiser Donna Hooper said the
event was a wonderful reunion for current and
retired members of the NZ Police.
“It’s a great way to forge friendships and of
course foster a bit of friendly rivalry,” she said.
On the first night of competition the NZ Police
representative team played a very serious local
invitation team. Unfortunately the Police lost,
but some outstanding competitive darts were
played. All other registered players played in
the North vs South match, which was won by
the North Island.
On the second day of competition the fours
and pairs matches were played, while Sunday
was reserved for the prestigious singles event.
Results:
Men’s singles winner: Olly Outtrim
(Palmerston North). Runner-up: Rod Reid
(Palmerston North).
Ladies’ singles winner: Jude Gray (Kaikoura)
Runner-up: Donna Hooper (Lower Hutt).
Pairs’ winner: Rod Reid/Stewart Davies
(Palmeston North) Runners-up: Shane
Godinet/Alan Eastwood (Glen Innes OB).
Fours’ winners: Shane Godinet/Alan Eastwood,
Dave Darwin, Dave Gray (GIOB/Kaikoura).
Runners-up: Tim Riwaka/John Kench, Jude
Gray/Matt Lindsay (Christchurch/Kaikoura).
144
June 2010
Men’s plate singles winner: Tim Riwaka.
Runner-up: Alan Eastwood (GIOB).
Ladies’ plate singles winner: Gina Atkinson
(Palmerston North) Runner-up: Jenny Kearins
(Palmerston North).
Men’s plate pairs winners: Bruce Harrison/
Dave Joyce (Lower Hutt) Runners-up: Jude
Gray/Matt Lindsay (Kaikoura).
Best and Fairest Team:Olly Outtrim/Rod
Reid (Palmerston North). Runners-up: Stewart
Davies (Palmerston North)/Donna Hooper
(Lower Hutt).
The NZ Police rep team selected for
Awanui, Northland in 2011 is:
Olly Outtrim – Palmerston North, Rod Reid –
Palmerston North, Stan Hooper – Lower Hutt,
Shane Godinet – Glen Innes OB, Tim Riwaka
– Christchurch, Alf Filipaina – Auckland,
Mark Stevens – Lower Hut, Stewart Davies –
Palmerston North, John Kench – Christchurch
(Reserve), and Dave Darwin – Glen Innes OB
(Reserve).
Police rugby league
team to tour
The New Zealand Police rugby league team
will be undertaking a three-match North
Island tour in August 2010.
The side will take on local rep teams in
Rotorua (Bay of Plenty rep team), Gisborne
(East Coast Rep team) and New Plymouth
(Taranaki). The New Plymouth match is a
charity fundraiser involving Ben Hekenui (who
lost both his legs in an industrial accident).
Ben is now coach of the Waitara team.
Expressions of interest are being called for
from all players interested in being selected
for the team and should be forwarded via
Lotus Notes to [email protected]
Details should include your full name, date
of birth, current station/district and a contact
phone number. Also include any previous
playing experience, what position you play,
and at what, if any, level you are currently
playing.
All players must be registered with Anne to
be considered.
Snowboarding nationals at Tekapo in September
The 2010 NZ Police Association and Council of Sport Snowboarding Nationals will be held at
Tekapo between 15-18 September 2010.
The event will be held at Mt Dobson, Roundhill and Ohau skifields and consists of snowboard
cross, giant slalom, slope style and half pipe.
All snowboarders are welcome. Please contact the organiser Greg Murton at
[email protected] for further details.
2008 Milcrest Estate Pinot NoirRRP $23
by Ricky Collins
A few new labels
I’ve tried a few new wines to the market over
the last few months and here are my thoughts
on a handful that caught my eye, and palate.
2009 O: Tu Otuwhero Estates
Marlborough Sauvignon BlancRRP $19
There is plenty of cheap, but fairly bland Sauvignon Blanc on the
market at present. Rest assured this Awatere Valley wine is anything
but bland. It’s a fresh and invigorating drop with a slightly fleshy
mouthfeel. It shows gooseberry and lime flavours, with a hint of
tropical fruit notes as well. All in all, this is a pretty smart example of
this country’s benchmark wine variety.
2009 Montana Living Land Series Waipara Pinot GrisRRP $22
I’m picking the Milcrest label will be unfamiliar to most readers. This
Nelson Pinot is the first vintage produced on a newly planted Hope
vineyard by ex-sworn member Terry Milton. This first release Pinot
doesn’t disappoint. It has classic, juicy red-berry flavours with a hint
of spice, and it’s nicely balanced and shows good length. At $23 a
bottle, it represents good value for money. Terry is just getting up
and running, but look out for his wines in Super Liquor stores soon.
Alternatively, check out his website www.milcrestestate.co.nz
2008 Conspiracy Hawke’s Bay MerlotRRP $10
This wine is only available through on-line supplier
www.bestwinebuys.co.nz
The Conspiracy range is effectively relabeled to conceal the true
identity of the producer. For $10 you end up with a wine that is worth
quite a bit more, and the producer moves the wine at a discount rate
without damaging the perceived value of the true label. This Merlot
has good palate weight, bright fruit forward flavours with a touch of
spice and dry tannins. It’s the best $10 New Zealand red I’ve tried
for a while.
Montana has recently released a new range of wines called Living
Land. This Waipara Pinot Gris is sourced from a very low crop that
survived a hailstorm that wiped out 60 to 70% of the fruit. The
remaining fruit went through to full ripeness and eventually resulted
in a wine with concentrated tropical fruit and spicy pear flavours. It’s
a well-balanced wine, full-bodied with a slightly viscous texture. Look
out for introductory reduced pricing that is pretty tempting.
2009 Banrock Station MoscatoRRP $15
Banrock Station recently added a Moscato to their range of wines
available in New Zealand. If you’re looking for a fresh and juicy light
wine with a low level of alcohol then this might be just the ticket. This
fresh and slightly effervescent wine has a distinct grapefruit nose,
and delivers sweet pineapple and passionfruit flavours. It’s just a
lovely refreshing wine that’s not too serious, and it’s quite often on
special at Countdown for well under $10 a bottle.
• On Anzac Day at Johnsonville Police
Station near Wellington something of
a rare occurrence took place when five
officers who have been the officer-incharge of the station from 1997 to the
present day attended the remembrance
ceremony. From left to right they are:
Senior Sergeant Mark Buttar (current
O/C), Inspector Peter McKay (PNHQ),
Inspector Marty Parker (Central Comms),
Senior Sergeant Doug Rowan (Strategic
Traffic Group), and Detective Inspector
Stephen Vaughan (PNHQ).
- Photo courtesy of Mark Gibson.
June 2010
145
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Write it here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.
Signed letters are preferred, but in all cases the writer’s name and address must be supplied. Names will be published unless there is a good
reason for anonymity. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or decline letters without explanation. Email to: [email protected] or
write it to the Editor at PO Box 12344, Wellington. Letters under 400 words are preferred.
The reasons for those line-ups
Motor bike training a great success
I read an article recently in the Police News
from an unidentified Counties-Manukau
Police staff member. The member raised the
subject of the new initiative of weekly lineups for frontline staff. The member went on
to say that: “This is the Police, not the Army”
and continued to talk to a range of issues.
Recently, the Wellington District Road
Policing Group ran a day long motorbike
training course at the Royal New Zealand
Police College (RNZPC).
For me, this article identified two issues.
Firstly, the member did not feel comfortable
raising the issue with a supervisor, Area
Commander or myself. Secondly, the
member may not appreciate the true
purpose of the line-up.
On the first point, I would like all staff to
feel confident in the knowledge that if
they have an issue, or they disagree with
an initiative, that their bosses, including
myself, are mature enough to accept
constructive feedback. These situations arise
because of a lack of our communicating
the purpose of the initiative or a lack of
our understanding of current frontline
issues. Open communication is the key.
My Email address is easy to find, as is your
Area Commander’s. The door to my office
is always open. If you have an issue, an idea
and/or a solution, I am keen to hear it.
It was open to all Wellington District staff
that owned a motorbike and wanted to up
skill themselves in handling, slow speed
manoeuvring, hazard awareness and brake
and escape techniques.
The reason for running such a course was
recognition that there are more motorbikes
on NZ roads than ever before and a recent
explosion in bike numbers at Wellington
Central has emphasised the need to offer
some basic (and not so basic) riding safety
tips to improve overall rider safety.
The response from the bully board message
and poster was very encouraging - so good
in fact that over a dozen people had to be
turned away due to limitations on venue size
and available facilitators.
The day kicked off just after 0900hrs with
a quick introduction and brief of the day’s
intended activities, followed by a very quick
lecture on the systems of motorcycle control.
Then it was on to the actual riding.
On the second point, I would like to reaffirm the purpose of the weekly line-ups,
which I anticipate should take no more
than five to 10 minutes of your time, once a
week. A key Police value is professionalism
- the first aim of the line-up is to ensure
we are at our presentable best when we go
out on the street, and we have the required
appointments to maintain personal and team
safety. The second purpose of the line-up is
for your Response and Tactical Managers
and Area Commanders to communicate
some key messages to you regularly, so
frontline staff are across some of the more
strategic issues.
The riders were shown some cone layouts
on the parade ground and yours truly was
given the task of showing them how to do it
right. All went well until I did the second lap
of the offset cone weave where I promptly
skittled a cone and had to go back and show
them again. Yes, I could hear the laughing
over the engine of my own bike (even the
experts have bad days you know). “Yeah
right” I hear you say.
On a final point, the member refers to a
lack of resources. I think it is important for
me to acknowledge the significant increase
in resources afforded to this District over
past months - 300 extra staff, extra vehicles,
computers, safety equipment and buildings.
I believe the District is in great shape and we
are well on the way to achieving our vision
for Counties-Manukau - where people feel
safe and are safe.
The day finished with a brake and escape
exercise and the randomiser, which is
basically a whole lot of cones thrown around
the place where the rider has an entry and
exit point and has to try and negotiate his
bike through without striking any of the
cones - fun for all was had on that. The look
on some of the faces was priceless.
Mike Bush
(District Commander)
146
June 2010
Activities included 90-degree pull outs,
intersection layouts, figure eight, offset cone
layout, non-breaking cone weave, leaning
in/out and with the bike (full use of the
college’s skid track was used for this).
Feedback has been very positive with
the overall consensus being that this was
an excellent initiative by the Wellington
District administration.
Through Police News I would like to take
this opportunity to thank a few people
without whose help this would not have
been possible - Greg Thomas (motor bike
instructor RNZPC), whose instruction
was second-to-none; Kevin Guthrie
from Tasman (TAG) and Andrew Gilbert
Wellington (STU); Roy Hitchcock from
NZTA who supplied some CDs to hand out,
and Inspector Peter Baird (RPG Manager
Wellington), who has supported our efforts
and who generously provided funds so we
could have a free lunch at the college.
Ride safe out there.
Graeme Bergh
(Wellington)
The dangers posed by U-turns
Enough is enough. For years innumerable
members have faced legal charges and risked
serious injury whilst executing U-turns to
initiate pursuits after speeding motorists.
More importantly, in the last couple of years,
one motorcyclist was seriously injured and
another maimed. Now the inevitable death
has occurred.
The Police Department will not ban this
patently unsafe work place practice. It is
time for the Police Association to call in the
Labour Department to require the Police
Department to instruct staff to stop this
dangerous practice.
Once banned by the department, members
should face the same prosecution
consequences as any other motorist who is
involved in a collision whilst executing a Uturn.
If the Police choose not to ban the practice,
it is the Police Department who should face
a Labour Department prosecution when, not
if, the next collision happens.
Mark Leys
(Auckland)
Time to get tough on those
who instigate pursuits
Yet again, I read the latest news and see there
have been more pursuit-involved crashes
and fatals, this time to innocent parties as
well as those attempting to evade Police.
Having been an active follower of Police
policy and also actively involved in pursuits,
it is with continuing frustration that we
(the frontline police) are seeing no attempts
by either the Police administration nor
Government to make suitable changes to the
offence of failing to stop for red/blue lights.
When is there going to be a realisation
by Ministers, the judiciary and our own
headquarters that crashes from police
pursuits frequently commence from an
everyday vehicle stop or checkpoint.
As police officers, the last thing we want
is for offenders to avoid apprehension. But
on the other hand high-speed pursuits are
risky for us as drivers and passengers, for
innocent members of the public and for the
occupants of offending vehicles.
The average member of the public stops and
the process takes its natural course.
As the letter from ‘Concerned’ clearly shows,
we’re damned if we do and we’re damned if
we don’t.
However, the minority of drivers believe,
for a variety of reasons that they cannot
be spoken to, whether due to their licence
status, their alcohol consumption, or their
involvement with illegal activity.
The aim of the pursuit policy is to guide
police drivers in balancing the risks so they
can make their own abandonment decisions
long before the pursuit controller is required
to.
It is at this point that the mind-shift occurs
and they drive off and a pursuit is initiated.
However, we all know that when the lights
and sirens are on and the absolute focus is
on stopping an offending vehicle, it can be
difficult to take the full picture into account.
The police reaction is to either commence
or not commence the pursuit, and if
commenced, thereby follows an intricate set
of directives, guidelines and responsibilities
for the officer involved.
The offending driver has one concern,
responsibility and directive: Do not stop!
I believe our legislation around this issue is
archaic.
Still we see judges failing to sentence
these offenders meaningfully, as there is
insufficient power to do anything but fine
the offender.
I believe this offence should be punishable
by imprisonment (not a minor three
months either, but a substantial sentence
of two years, and a mandatory 12 months
disqualification period). The sentence needs
to be separate to any other offence sentence.
This would then send a clear message to the
minority – stop for a police officer.
How many more innocent lives will be lost,
with the police officer concerned wracked
with guilt over his or her procedural actions,
before someone in a position to make change
says: “Enough is enough!”
I would have thought that all of the families
of the innocent would also have been heard
when they have voiced their concerns, but
I guess not.
That’s where Comms oversight comes in.
It’s very helpful and necessary to have an
experienced independent third party in
the form of a pursuit controller to help our
police drivers balance the competing risks.
Relaying to the pursuit controller
information about the speed, the occupants,
the weather, the environment and the traffic
conditions helps our drivers to structure
their thinking in the middle of a complex
and pressured situation.
When it’s apparent that public safety is at
risk, the pursuit controller steps in and
directs the pursuit to be abandoned - as
they should. The overriding principle is that
public and staff safety must take precedence
over the immediate apprehension of the
offender.
Our pursuit controllers are required to
manage the risk for the organisation as a
whole. They make high-pressure judgement
calls on behalf of us all. They take their
responsibilities very seriously and I fully
support them in the decisions they make.
Superintendent Andy McGregor
(National Manager: Communications Centres)
Why the drinking age
should stay the same
A very clear, forceful message by way of
legislative sentencing change needs to
happen – and sooner rather than later.
As a member of the public, I do not believe
the Police should support raising the
drinking age to 20. It should be left at 18.
Tim Rowe
(Eastern District)
Once a person turns 18 they can join the
Police, so raising the drinking age to 20
would mean police officers who are 18 years
of age won’t be able to buy or drink alcohol.
It strikes me as a bit weird that a police
officer could be old enough to arrest people,
use a gun, and engage in pursuits but not
deemed old enough to drink alcohol.
Eighteen-year-olds can also vote and even
become a Member of Parliament.
The vexed issue of pursuits
I am writing in response to the letter
Pursuit decisions send the wrong message from
‘Concerned’ of Auckland in the May issue of
Police News.
Pursuits are a really difficult balancing act
for all of us.
Nine thousand people recently signed an
online petition urging the Police not to
support raising the driving age to 16 years
old either because then a person will have to
effectively be 18.5 years old before they have
their full licence, which means there could
be some 18-year-old police officers still on
their restricted licence! This would then
mean an 18-year-old police officer wouldn’t
be able to carry passengers or drive after 10
p.m.
Callum Smith
(Wellington)
Thanks for Assn and
Police ‘family’ support
Lucy, Tom and I wish to express our heartfelt
thanks for the amazing support from Police
Welfare Manager Pete Hayes and the staff at
the Police Association.
We are aware that many people have
worked tirelessly behind the scenes to
support us through the seven months from
Mike’s diagnosis to his death on 3 April. It
is comforting to know that we are part of
the Police family and this means a great deal.
To the many wonderful friends within the
Police family we were humbled by your
support and love.
To those of you who have sent the many
cards and Emails, as we are unable to
acknowledge each personally, please know
it means a great deal.
Thanks again and warmest regards,
Michelle, Lucy and Tom Forrestal
(Wellington)
Support greatly appreciated
We wish to thank each and everyone
involved during Michael’s illness and funeral
through Police News.
To the many people who have supported our
families during the past six months and to
all of those who expressed their condolences
this is a personal thank you – and a big hug
– to each and every one of you.
Tom and Angie Forrestal, Cath and Paul Keno,
Theresa, Andrew and Scott.
IN REPLY: MERV HOTTER (Howick): You
will be aware that the issues around the
DRM (Differential Response Model) of
firearms training has been the subject of
much discussion between the Police and the
Police Association and this is still ongoing
as this issue went to press. TREVOR
MORLEY (Wellington); Points noted on
both subjects. GEOFF BENGE (Otaki):
Whilst your points in general are well made
– a read of the entire report concerning this
incident, rather than a news brief, might be
in order. – Editor. June 2010
147
Do you want good working conditions?
Are you paying high rent?
Are you interested in lifestyle?
…if so – Westport needs you!
WESTPORT
New Zealand’s best kept secret!
It’s clichéd advertising, but are you tired of traffic jams and
the rat race in general? Fed up with pollution and litter in
the streets? Leave the cities behind and enter one of the
most clean and natural environments New Zealand has to
offer. Bask in the magnificent scenery, explore our natural
forest walkways, or set your own path. Visit the wealth of
historic sites - plentiful throughout the region.
Westport township situated at the mouth of the mighty
Buller River was founded 150 years ago on gold, coal and
timber. This historic town is nestled away at the foot of the
Paparoa Mountains to the east and the Tasman Sea to the
west. The town population is 6,000, with the Buller District
total being 11,000.
Westport has a station of one senior sergeant, one sergeant,
“Westport police staff and their families enjoy some white water rafting - one of the many
seven constables and one detective. There is an on-call
outdoor attractions Westport has to offer.
situation; an on-call allowance is paid.
The Police District contains two one-man stations, at Granity and
squash courts and a large floodlit outdoor hockey turf. Want to shop a
Karamea. Reefton to the south has a three man station. Westport is
bit further a field – then Nelson is only three hours away, Christchurch
situated in the Tasman region with the Headquarters being based in
four and Greymouth an hour.
Nelson. Local large employers are the Milburn Cement Company and
Medical facilities
Solid Energy New Zealand Limited.
There are two medical centres with resident doctors. Buller Hospital
Town amenities
has an acute ward plus a geriatric ward. Greymouth Hospital some
The main street has a good range of shops with most tastes catered
90 kilometres away is the base hospital and both elective and acute
for. Foodstuffs (and wine and beer) can be purchased at either New
surgery is carried out here. The local St Johns is staffed by both
World or Fresh Choice Supermarkets. We don’t have a KFC, but we do
professional and volunteer staff.
have eight pubs on the main street, plus a Workingmen’s Club and an
Schools
RSA. Local restaurants cater for the hungry with whitebait being a
Westport is well served with education facilities, which are comprised
speciality. That’s if you are too lazy to catch your own.
of a co-ed high school, three primary schools and a kindergarten.
There is a good library and a video outlet which takes care of the
There is also a day care centre and a parents’ centre. All schools are
winter nights (during the summer you won’t want to stay at home),
within cycling or walking distance.
plus a spectacular new sports complex with three indoor pools, gym,
Attractions
Sports: Rugby, soccer, hockey, netball, basketball, cricket, bowls
(indoor and outdoor), croquet, golf (18 hole all weather course).
Recreation: Fishing (salt and fresh), hunting (deer–red and fallow),
tramping, climbing, mountain biking, gold prospecting, jet boating,
sailing, whitebaiting, skiing, bush walks, squash, tennis, exploring and
more…
House values average between $160,000 and $340,000 and rental
properties average between $210 and $350.
If you want further information please contact:
O/C WestportArea Commander
(03) 788-8310
or go to www.bullerdc.govt.nz
Tauranga Bay is one of seven beaches in the local area.
(03) 768-1600

time to lower the BAC limit - New Zealand Police Association

Transcription

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