Govt rejects police recruiting claim

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Thu, 24 Nov 2011 8:03a.m. UPDATED

Prime Minister John Key (AAP)

Prime Minister John Key (AAP)

The government is rejecting a claim by Labour leader Phil Goff that police recruiting for all of next year has been frozen because of cost cutting.

National's law and order spokeswoman, Judith Collins, says the January intake has been delayed until March because an extra 300 recruits graduated last year and very few officers have left the force.

"There is categorically no plan to put a freeze on police recruiting next year," she said on Thursday.

"Two days out from the election, Phil Goff is so desperate he is plucking statements from thin air."

Ms Collins, who is minister of police, says the only change is the delay in the call up of the first wing. "By the end of this year we will have 600 extra frontline police on the beat and we expect to maintain these levels."

Ms Collins says the recruiting level next year will only be reduced if the attrition rate in the force drops even lower and fewer are needed.

Mr Goff made the claim during a television debate with Prime Minister John Key on Wednesday night.

After the debate, he told reporters his information came from a reliable source.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor told the New Zealand Herald he had heard, but could not confirm, rumours about savings programmes including a recruitment freeze.

NZN

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Comments

24 Nov 2011 07:51p.m.

Rachel wrote:

seanplunketzb (@seanplunketzb) 11/24/11 9:08 AM A)Did Phil Goff really not know his police numbers claims were a sack of excrement? B)Or was it a lie to scare people into voting Labour? Answer: ummm B. Who used it to skewer Key, without substantaing the claim. A) herald on sunday B) TV3 Ummmmm B

24 Nov 2011 02:22p.m.

Ricardo wrote:

Goofy's answer to law and order is to let criminals loose in the community for 'minor offences'.

24 Nov 2011 01:56p.m.

Mandy wrote:

Key has been borrowing a steady three hundred million a week, and every time you ask him serious questions like: why unemployment gone to the roof? Why the economy failed to move forward? Why the Chch affairs have been mismanaged ? Why the wage gap has increased? Why the brain drain has sped up? Why the child poverty has reached unacceptable level? Why are you going to set the national asset on fire in a cheap sale? Why every single school is complaining about your national standards, and no one listens? All he has to answer is: Oh…aah…mumble mumble…you know the world is in recession? We know John, and we have been less affected by it, than many…but what have you been doing with that three hundred million dollars a week you borrow on our back?

24 Nov 2011 01:41p.m.

Neil wrote:

What does Judith Collins say - there is no freeze - then proceeds to actually agree with Goff - there is a freeze - but her answer is we're just stopping the March intake and will be looking again later in the year - umm in my English that means a freeze albeit a temporary one!!!! But apparently not in politics they don't talk in English like the rest of us...

24 Nov 2011 01:04p.m.

Peter wrote:

Poor old Phil. Trying to make political mileage out of anything that arises. Dance of the Desperate.

24 Nov 2011 12:33p.m.

Peter wrote:

As an ex police officer of 16 years, neither government is to be trusted as so far as making claims re police recruitment, both have in the past ceased recruiting for differing periods stating that there are less leaving, the only reason behind this is the fact officers are staying because the job market isn't as fluid as the goverment would say it is. Job security is why they are staying not because they like the job or the bull that goes with it, this of course is contrary to what they will tell you, they will try to tell you all is well with the boys and girls in blue, far from it I can assure you, just as your average copper, but then they have been instructed to say what the bosses want them to say. Wouldn't matter what party wins on Saturday night nothing will change in this country, no wonder New Zealanders are leaving in droves.

24 Nov 2011 12:25p.m.

David wrote:

We trusted John Key before the last election--- when asked on a the issue of GST rising to 15%,He Said "National will-- NOT-- be raising GST to 15%--our aim is to reduce taxes" Hmmmm! what happened once he was elected??Hes lost my support

24 Nov 2011 12:20p.m.

Homer wrote:

All National are interested in is the economy and how much they can save to pay back what we owe. Make no mistake this will come at a cost. Already we see funding cuts everywhere, early childhood was the worst cuts they made. I wouldn't be surprised if the police had to make such cuts. National are about the rich. welfare reforms when there is bugger all work around really shows them up for what's more important to them. I agree with welfare reforms but to me it would make more sense down the track when there are actually jobs available. If National get in I expect poverty will rise further and watch the crime and suicide rates go up.

24 Nov 2011 12:16p.m.

martin wrote:

I wish Key had turned to Goff and asked him what planet he is living on. Greece is gone which will tip Italy. France is exposed to Italy it will go to the brink. Germany and the IMF will run out of funds trying to prop up Europe and the greenback will crash from the FED continuing to print $'s. And guess who lent all these countries money ? CHINA ! which props up Australia which props up us. Good on Phil for worrying about the number of recruits in the Police College. What happened to big balls, big thinker?

24 Nov 2011 11:41a.m.

Bruce wrote:

Cretins, the Police have a maximum number of members they can have employed at any one time otherwise they would have thousands of cops. You don't need them you don't train them! Goff heard a rumour that the January course was cancelled (or deferred) and blew smoke around a rumour (just great for a prospective leader) and of course there was no substance to his allegation and even Collins did not know what the hell was going on until she spoke to the Commissioner. It was a Police operational decision, nothing to do with politics and not the first time this has been done. Goff scored points but at the cost of facts and honesty. He is the dishonest one this time around.And Goff does just pluck stuff out of thin air as he cannot remember facts and figures and fairy tales work as well for him.