New Zealand’s new police minister, Mark Mitchell, has written to the Commissioner of Police Andrew Coster setting out the National-led government’s “expectations” in an attempt to ensure a tougher line against crime—a key policy plank for all three coalition parties: National, ACT, and NZ First.
While convention forbids ministers from interfering in “operational matters,” there is a provision in the Policing Act 2008 allowing them to expect the commissioner to deliver on the government’s direction and priorities.
While in Opposition, Mr. Mitchell was an outspoken critic of policing as carried out under Mr. Coster.
“I have been open about the fact I do not agree with the direction policing has taken under the previous government,“ he said. ”And I expect the police commissioner to focus on core policing with a back-to-basics approach. I want people to feel safe on their streets, in their homes, and in their workplaces.”
“Gangs have become more violent and more present in our communities, intimidating the public and taking over public roads and spaces. This needs to stop.
“I expect police will use the powers provided to them in legislation to ensure gangs will not take over towns, public roads, or spaces. Law-abiding members of the public are entitled to have their rights to safety and freedoms protected.”
The government has pledged to pass new gang-related legislation in its first 100 days, and Mr. Mitchell said he expected police to police gangs.
New measures include banning gang patches, stopping gang members gathering in public, stopping known gang members from communicating with each other, and giving police greater search powers.
He also committed the government to begin work to “crack down on serious youth offending.”
A Youth Justice Demerit Point system is being considered, though there is no detail around this at present.
Recruitment and retention of frontline staff has also been an issue for NZ Police, with many current staff approaching retirement and Australia actively recruiting New Zealand officers.
Mr. Mitchell said “frontline officers [will be] considered the priority when decisions are being made around investment and allocation of resources” and that legislation will be introduced “to ensure offenders that harm police face real and serious consequences for their actions.”
The police will be expected to develop an “organisation-wide programme to identify efficiencies and back-office savings and ensure these are invested back into enabling frontline policing services” while actively reducing “expenditure on contractors and consultants.”
The minister initially avoided answering questions as to whether he had confidence in the commissioner.
However, after the two men met earlier this week he told a morning radio programme that it was obvious he released the letter so he could have full confidence in the commissioner.
“Which I do,” he said. “I wanted to have full confidence in the police commissioner that he would implement our policies and legislation and so that’s why I sort of engaged with this process through the Public Services Commission, which is exactly what it’s there for.”
