Police News June 07.indd

VOLUME 40 • NUMBER 5 • JUNE 2007

The Voice of Police

PFWAC Conference hostedby Police Association

■ TWO AWARDS FOR BRAVE POLICE OFFICER■ GANGS – WHY WE NEED A ROYAL COMMISSION■ MORE POLICEWOMEN NEEDED

PoliceNews The Voice of Police

ContentsFrom the President 99

Association applauds clarity around repeal of Section 59 99

No need to wear a tie when you don your body armour 99

Bob Evans awarded prestigious Bill Murray Award 100

Alastair Dickie’s bravery fittingly rewarded 101

The Cinderella solution 101

Association calls for Commission of Inquiry into gangs/organised crime 102

The question of what to do about gangs 103

Health Plan premiums to be held at current levels 104

Insurance premium annual reviews 104

Reunion for Cyprus veterans 104

Travelpac giveaway 104

Association hosts PFWAC Conference 105/110

Memorial Wall 110

Holiday home availability chart 111

The Budget for Vote Police 111

Police Act submissions – your chance to shape the face of NZ policing 112/113

Copper’s crossword 113

Sports News 114

Keen on wine 115

View from the bottom 115

Spicers – making the most of your hard work 116

Letters to the Editor 117/119

June 200798

NZ Police Association Police News is the magazine of the New Zealand Police Association and incorporates the New Zealand Police Journal fi rst published in 1937.

Editor: Steve Plowman

May 2007, Vol. 40, No.5

ISSN 1175-9445

Deadline for next issue Friday, June 15, 2007.

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

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.policeassn.org.nz

Printed by City Print Communications, Wgtn.

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.

• Front page: Girl power: Australian women delegates (pictured at top) and their NZ Police Association counterparts (at bottom) met in Wellington recently to discuss a wide range of issues affecting women in Police. It was also a valuable opportunity for the delegates to not only compare notes but to receive some valuable insights from speakers such as Dame Margaret Bazley, Lianne Dalziel, and Laila Harre, among others.

PFWAC IN ACTION

Association stalwart earnsBill Murray Award – page 100

AWARDS FOR BRAVE ACTIONS

101

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

102

105

New Zealand Police Association

99June 2007

Association applaudsclarity around repeal of Section 59of the Crimes ActThe Police Association has applauded the commonsense resolution of the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which many parents feared could criminalise them for lightly smacking a child.

The legislation was passed by Parliament on 15 May.

“Police officers feared that the repeal of Section 59 would leave them with no ability to use discretion when a smacking complaint was received,” Police Association President, Greg O’Connor, told Police News.

“The Police Association had previously expressed concern that under current Police policy, an admission by a parent or a complaint by a witness that a child had been smacked, however slightly, would leave police with no choice but to prosecute.”

Use of discretion“The last minute amendment to Section 59 ensures an important element of policing in New Zealand is retained – the ability to use discretion. Prescription policing, which leaves officers with no ability to take into account the unique circumstances of every case is not good for Police or the public they protect,” he said.

“The inclusion of the new clause 4 into Section 59 of the Crimes Act ensuring discretion, upholds an important aspect of policing and Parliament is to be congratulated on coming to this sensible position,” Mr O’Connor said.

Association says – ditchthe tie when wearing SRBA The wearing of ties with stab resistant body armour (SRBA) has become a “hot” issue with some members being directed to wear ties with the winter uniform.

After strong feedback from members, the Association believes the tie should not be worn with SRBA because:

• Wearing SRBA can make members hot and sweaty. One real way of alleviating this problem is to stop wearing a tie, so there is air circulating around the neck; and

• The tie presses into the neck causing discomfort.

Wearing SRBA is for members’ safety and this need can come at the expense of comfort. However, this means that Police should do all that they can to alleviate problems, which could present a hazard to members – especially when wearing SRBA away from the station is mandatory. The Association believes that ditching the tie is an easy solution and one, which members’ can easily take to alleviate the problems associated with heat discomfort.

The Association belives that Police should take immediate action so as wearers of SRBA do not have to wear ties.

SRBA and the shirtPolice have recognised the need for a new shirt to be worn with SRBA. The current shirt is uncomfortable under SRBA because it becomes wet with sweat (not very attractive) and then cools down when the sweat dries (still not very attractive).

A new shirt made out of appropriate material to manage the heat and sweat is required. The Association is pleased that Police are now working towards issuing such shirts. The Association is hopeful that the issue of such garments will occur by summer.

In a month where police officers were either being stabbed, beaten, bitten by dogs, and criticised for over-policing Dunedin students or under-policing Christchurch youth parties, we got reminded that the Commissioner had had a life prior to being expected to become exemplary and that our media are more interested in personalities than facts.

The last point I refer to of course is the Bain case, something that occurred before half the current police officers joined the job.

If you have read the papers and watched our sycophantic media prostrating themselves at the feet of Joe Karam and the man still accused of murdering his parents and three siblings, you could be tempted to believe that our colleagues on the investigation team in Dunedin in 1994 had completely botched the inquiry.

As people who have had considerable exposure to the case but whose views are unheard in the current media frenzy know, it was only the very good investigatative work by Dunedin detectives, which prevented them from obeying the O/C Inquiry’s instruction to ‘stop chasing ghosts’ and laying blame on the father, Robin Bain, despite him being the prime suspect well into day two of the inquiry.

However, the whole debate around the case has become about the selective use of information so we should not go into that here.

What is absolutely essential, however, is that David Bain be retried for the murders.

In fact, since the case has been played out in the court of public opinion, heavily influenced by sound bites and headlines,

there is an excellent case for the whole trial to be broadcast live on television to ensure all facts are available to the public.

Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal in New Zealand attempted to take cognisance of the public interest in the case. They went far too deeply into the mostly peripheral matters and essentially said, there was so much other evidence anyway that these issues would never have changed the jury’s decision. They did that for the right reason but went further than they should have, thus bringing about the Privy Council decision to overturn the conviction.

That decision, because of the way it has been reported, has done serious and quite unjustified damage to the credibility of the judiciary and New Zealand Police. A very public retrial is essential to balance up the quite wrong perceptions created. Whatever the outcome, at least much of the damning evidence against David Bain would be heard by the doubting public and that may put some balance into what has become a terribly skewed discussion.

“In fact, since the case has been played out in the court of public opinion, heavily influenced by sound bites and headlines, there is an excellent case for the whole trial to be broadcast live on television to ensure all facts are available to the public.”

June 2007


100

Bob Evans awarded prestigious Bill MurrayAward for services to Association membersBob Evans recently received the Police Association’s Bill Murray Award for his outstanding service on behalf of members over 24 years.

Bill Murray was the first President of the NZ Police Association and worked tirelessly to establish a police union and on behalf of members in the mid-1930’s when there was vehement opposition in Police and Government circles to police officers having any type of representation.

NZ Police Association President, Greg O’Connor presented Mr Evans with the award at a special ceremony in Wanganui recently.

Bob first became a committee member in 1983 when based in Wanganui. He has remained an active committee member since, throughout many transfers around the country. He was also a founding secretary of the Tokoroa branch.

Bob continued to be an active committee member on his return to Wanganui, supporting staff through issues and disputes, giving valuable advice, and assisting with documentation. He has held the roles of Welfare Officer and Association Vice-President, and in 2003 and again in 2004 was elected Chairperson of the Wanganui Branch.

In demandHe stood down from the Chair’s position in 2005 when he took a year’s leave to

travel to the USA. While he was away, Bob’s vast experience and wide knowledge of procedures, policies and General Instructions, where to find manual information on the intranet, and his general overall concern for staff welfare was sorely missed. He was quickly in demand again when he returned from his trip Stateside.

Bob was asked to stand for the newly created role of Deputy Regional Director for Central. He was duly elected, and he filled in for former Director, Chris Cahill at Board meetings when requested.

One of Bob’s last major achievements began in mid-2006 when he picked up and ran with health and safety issues that had been raised with management by Wanganui Court Orderly staff in August 2005. The issue related to the poor state of the cells in the Wanganui District Court. Bob co-ordinated meetings between Wanganui Police management, Wanganui District Court management, and the industrial team at NZPA National Office, to the stage where minor alterations were undertaken immediately to minimise some of the risks.

Serious concernsMore serious concerns resulted in building alterations being drafted, and forwarded to the Manager of Buildings for the Courts in Wellington.

One of the major benefits from Bob’s intervention and the hard work done by the

Wanganui committee in this project was the raising of identified safety issues with the new Wanganui prison truck. This led to the realisation that all the new prison trucks nationwide had similar design faults and these were addressed before any mishaps occurred that may have resulted in adverse publicity for Police.

Bob’s replacement is yet to be found but his legacy continues through the hard work being done by the Wanganui Committee

Bob recently resigned from Police and he leaves some big shoes to fill. Staff in Wanganui have been extremely appreciative of Bob’s concern for staff welfare, his practical advice and his wealth of knowledge and experience in getting matters resolved at a personal and station level.

Monumental jobGreg O’Connor said that Bob Evans was the “epitome of what a good Association committee member is” – going in to bat for his members, taking a personal interest in the welfare of staff and liasing with National Office to bring about workable resolutions for the benefit of members. “Wanganui, in particular and the Association generally, owe Bob Evans an enormous debt in terms of the monumental job he has done on behalf of members and Bob is indeed a very fitting and worthy recipient of the Bill Murray award,” Mr O’Connor said.

• (From left to right): John Dale (Chairperson, Wanganui committee), Bob Evans (Bill Murray award winner), Gail Cato (Secretary, Wanganui committee), Greg O’Connor (NZ Police Association President) and Luke Shadbolt (Region 4 Director).


101June 2007

Outstanding act of bravery earns two awards

• Governor-General, Anan Satyanand, presents Inspector Alastair Dickie with the Charles Upham Award for Bravery. - Photo courtesy of the Otago Daily Times..

Inspector Alastair Dickie is obviously a quick thinker – even when he’s half asleep.

His quick reflexes saved the life of 10-year-old Jordan Paku when the then Dunedin Senior Sergeant was staying at a motel in Christchurch in May last year.

Inspector Dickie, who has been a police officer for 29 years, and is a former Balclutha firefighter, was woken to the shouts of “Fire” and ran to the aid of Jordan who was trapped and barely conscious in a downstairs unit at the Meadow Park Holiday Park.

Inspector Dickie rushed into the unit and dragged Jordan to safety.

Two honoursThe Dunedin-based Inspector, who is coincidentally the Emergency Response Commander, was recently recognised for his bravery when he received the Royal Humane Society’s Silver Award and the Charles Upham Award for Bravery from the Governor-General, Anan Satyanand.

Jordan, who now lives with his family in Queensland, returned home to see his rescuer receive the awards.

PraiseThe Governor-General praised the incredible bravery of Inspector Dickie, saying that the rescue would “strike a chord with any parent”.

Inspector Dickie told The Otago Daily Times that he was humbled and “a bit embarrassed” by the awards and that he had merely “acted on instinct”.

The Charles Upham Award is awarded annually for someone who undertakes an act of bravery during peacetime, while The Royal Humane Society Award is one of the country’s highest and is given to recognise “outstanding acts of bravery.”

June 2007


102

Association calls for Commission of Inquiry into gangs and organised crimeBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News

The Police Association has renewed its call for a Commission of Inquiry into gangs and organised crime.

Association President, Greg O’Connor, suggested a Commission of Inquiry would be a first step in dealing to a growing gang problem in the wake of the fatal shooting of a the two-year-old daughter of a patched Black Power member in Wanganui. The fatal shooting occurred as a result of a drive-by shooting. Several shots were fired into a house occupied by Black Power members. It is alleged that rival Mongrel Mob members were responsible for the shooting.

Tip of the ‘ice’-berg“We began saying that an inquiry was needed as far back as 2003 and it would be inevitable that innocent people would be killed and this is exactly what has happened,” Mr O’Connor said. “The sort of gang violence that is boiling over in towns and cities around New Zealand is merely the tip of the ‘ice’-berg. Underlying these turf wars, are the millions of dollars at stake in controlling the ‘P’ market.”

“Every year that goes by and the authorities fail to understand the extent of the sphere of intimidation of the burgeoning organised crime industry, then the amount of time and investment needed to root them out in the future just increases, if indeed that will be possible,” he said.

“Millions of dollars have been spent on an inquiry into Police behaviour, now it is time to start concentrating on the behaviour of our organised criminals,” Mr O’Connor said.

Threat to NZ’s security“Until we understand the extent of the problem, we will not be able to properly focus our efforts on exterminating this threat to New Zealand’s security.”

New Zealand First MP, Ron Mark, has led the chorus of public and political concern in the wake of the killing of the young girl. Mr Mark said that gangs were a blight on society and as organised criminal enterprises needed to be dealt with in the same way that many countries dealt with terrorist organisations – by putting laws in place to make it illegal to belong to them.

Other politicians have said that such laws would only drive the gangs underground but Police are all too aware that many of the gangs have already started converting their criminal wealth through money laundering through legitimate businesses in order to do just that.

Wanganui mayor Michael Laws recently got support from former police officer and National Party Police spokesman, Chester Borrows, in having legislation tabled in Parliament that would outlaw the wearing of gang patches and other regalia in public places. The Government has said such a ban would be difficult to enforce.

Government action?Meanwhile the Government has said it will look at strengthening intimidation laws, possibly by amending the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill, which is currently before Parliament.

Prime Minister, Helen Clark, said recently that officials would be looking at legislative ways in which intimidating behaviour by gangs could be dealt with.

For decades, politicians have debated how best to deal with gangs with little effect on their burgeoning criminal empires or memberships. The Black Power and Mongrel Mob continue to attract a steady stream of disaffected mainly Maori youth, many effectively family ‘cast-offs’ from parents who have long since abdicated any parental responsibility for their offspring. Many gangs have become generational enterprises, quagmired in crime and knowing no other lifestyle.

Disaffected youthDisaffected young people provide fertile ground for gang recruiters, who seek out prospects who come up through the ranks by selling drugs in schools, robbing neighbourhood dairies and engaging in being as ‘staunch’ as possible. These actions are all in the hope of winning gang leadership approval in a misguided effort to eventually receive their coveted patch. Such is the draw of being ‘patched’ that many young prospects will admit to crimes, which have actually been done by senior gang members.

Police sources say that senior gang members in the established gangs have, in some instances, lost control of younger members. The younger members use of P is fuelling the divisions between young and old within some gangs.

While the Mongrel Mob, Black Power and Hells Angels have been around for decades there is a new breed of gang on the street that is becoming the scourge of towns and cities – youth gangs who pick out lone victims for beatings and robberies or who fight amongst themselves. They organise themselves into ‘crews’ with names like ‘Bloods’ and “Crips”, trying to emulate American street gangs who are glorified in gangster rap and hip hop songs.

Strutting for the camerasThe sight of gang members, with bandannas drawn down over their faces and posing for the media like strutting peacocks and making calls like baying dogs will have sickened most New Zealanders. It will also have brought home to them it is high time that tougher, more positive action takes the place of long-term political rhetoric in the fight against such organised criminal enterprises.

It seems highly doubtful that Jhia Harmony Te Tua’s death will cause reflection at a widespread level within gangs – though it may do at an individual level for some – given the thoroughly entrenched nature of the gang mentality.

There are many who will hope that this young girl’s tragic death will be the catalyst for finally getting some consensus on how best to deal with the gang problem and the Association’s call for a Commission of Inquiry could be a first step in the right direction. Whether the political will to do so remains after the original furore over the wee girl’s death has subsided, will be at the heart of whether that call is heeded though.


103June 2007

The question of what to do about gangsNZ Police Association President, Greg O’Connor, talked to Police News about issues relating to dealing with gangs after the fatal shooting of two-year-old Jhia Harmony Te Tua in Wanganui recently. Mr O’Connor had a significant involvement with the gang culture during his time as an undercover operative. Here are his reflections in a question and answer session:

Q: Why is it necessary to have a Commission of Inquiry into gangs and organised crime?A: Having seen the commitment both the Commissioner and the Government have given to implementing the recommendations of Dame Margaret Bazley’s Commission Of Inquiry into Police Conduct report, I feel that a similar Commission of Inquiry is essential if a serious co-ordinated and well-resourced strategy is to be employed against organised crime in New Zealand.

While Police do have much information it is unco-ordinated and tends to be used in the investigation of individual crimes rather than as a co-ordinated operation against crime groups. A very good example is the current homicide investigation following the gang shooting of a two-year-old girl in Wanganui.

Once the offenders are located, the inquiry will end and no effort will be made to address the broader issues around the cause of the conflict, i.e. a turf war over drug distribution and other crime. A properly constructed and empowered Commission would, firstly, not be so hampered around the need to prepare an evidential case. It could be much more broad ranging than an evidential inquiry. It would also have the impact of informing New Zealanders of how deeply entrenched in New Zealand society these organised criminal groups are.

Q: Should Police and politicians be meeting with gang leaders?A: Police and political leaders should only ever meet with gang leaders if a meeting is so requested by the gang leaders and that would be because those gang leaders were feeling under such pressure that it is curtailing their criminal activities. Police and politicians should only meet with such gangs to inform them that the pressure will continue until they stop committing crime. Any attempt at detente of any type merely empowers those gang leaders in the eyes of their own and of the public. Many of those members of the public, who are the victims of gang crime, are from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Q: Is NZ First MP Ron Mark correct in his assertion that gangs are effectively New Zealand’s terrorist organisations?A: Gangs are not terrorist organisations; they are organised groups of criminals in which a few leaders become wealthy and powerful through the efforts of their underlings. To describe them as terrorists in any way mobilises them or indicates they have a cause. The only cause they have is to make money out of crime, through their collective ability to intimidate people.

Q: What more can be done to stop disaffected youth from joining gangs?A: Youth will want to join gangs while senior gang members remain the dominant male role models. In lower socio-economic backgrounds, mostly Maori and Polynesian communities, young people will naturally be attracted to a lifestyle they perceive as delivering wealth and freedom from the monotony of a normal working life. This is why it is important for politicians, senior Police and the media to not add to the allure of the gang culture by meeting with gang leaders and boosting their public image.

Q: Should gang patches and other regalia be banned in public places?A: While there is a legitimate argument that it is easier to identify gang members if they are wearing gang regalia, a stronger argument is that forcing such members to hide their patches when approached by Police does diminish the power of the patch. Also, at times of gang tension, such as has been experienced in Wanganui, it does give Police a tool to arrest and put pressure on individual gang members, and to obtain information on them, knowing that if they strut their stuff in public places or even embark on motorcycle runs, then they will automatically be arrested. This will assist in reducing the attractiveness of gangs to young people.

Q: Gangs are heavily involved in the distribution of illegal drugs such as P. What new powers, if any, do the Police need to deal with this problem? A: The main power required by Police is effective asset seizure. The gangs are now well entrenched in the P industry and drug distribution and only by taking the profit out of crime will we discourage people from becoming involved in what is a very lucrative industry.

Q: Is it time New Zealand looked at making it illegal to belong to a gang? Should there be “non-association” laws? A: It is probably impractical to make gangs illegal, as the necessary laws to protect our democracy will inevitably give gangs protection against persecution. What are required are better non-association and parole conditions. This would essentially ensure that an individual, so defined, couldn’t associate with any gang or gang activity without risking arrest. In order for non-association legislation to be rendered meaningful, the power of such laws needs to be strengthened.

Q: Are Police resources adequate to fight the gang scourge or do they need more of a boost in terms of specific squads targeting gangs, as we had in the past?A: Police must take a national focus towards the policing of organised crime groups and gangs. It cannot be left to the districts individually. In the same way that the gang is bigger than any individual, so it is that the national association is bigger and more powerful than any local chapter. It is essential that a national group be formed to co-ordinate operations and target national crime groups. The impact of the current unco-ordinated policing of crime groups is that it effectively serves as a culling exercise, which makes those left behind stronger.

Q: Are Police chiefs taking the gang problem seriously enough?A: Police Chiefs are not taking the gang problem seriously. The performance criteria of District Commanders is heavily focused on the amount of crime. Policing of gangs invariably increases the reported crime, as it uncovers crime that would not otherwise have appeared in the statistics. This will effectively be a very low return statistics wise. Police Chiefs must look at the manner in which the performance of the districts is measured, to empower them to tackle the gang/crime problem.

Q: What should they be doing?A: The Police Chiefs need to be working with politicians to persuade them that the politically sensitive nature of the crime statistics, which impacts heavily on current strategy, should be minimised or eliminated. One means of achieving that would be to report the crime statistics monthly instead of annually and this would assist in depoliticising the issue.

June 2007


104

Health Plan premiumsto be held at same levelsMember subscription premiums for Police Health Plan are reviewed every year, with premium adjustments reflecting member claim patterns implemented on an as-needed basis.

In recent years, premium increases have been introduced in July, associated with the commencement of a new financial year. Premiums were last increased in July 2006. Prior to this, increases were effective in July 2004 and July 2002 respectively.

Following a recent review of the Police Health Plan, the May Board meeting of the Directors confirmed that, notwithstanding claims costs to the end of April which have increased by 9.15% from the same period last year, the financial position of the Plan is such that it is believed premiums can, at least for the time being, be left unchanged this year.

Some confidenceWhile we are confident premiums can be held until July 2008, this will be dependent on the level of claims costs incurred as the new financial year progresses. Claims costs will continue to be monitored closely and, if necessary, premiums will be adjusted to ensure the Plan remains financially strong.

A key factor in the success of Police Health Plan is only having three streamlined plan types – Surgical Only, Basic and Comprehensive and not having a variety of options and rebates. This has ensured our overheads, representing about 3.5% of revenue, are much lower than most other insurers who have ratios at least twice those of PHP.

Claim limits reviewedIn conjunction with the premiums review, we have also reviewed specific claim limits. Members are reminded that, ultimately, claims costs can only be sourced from subscriptions revenue. Increasing the various limits can only be funded by way of increasing premiums. While last year a number of benefit enhancements were introduced, the only change this year is to increase the maximum amount claimable for one procedure from $35,000 to $50,000. Past experience has shown that on very rare occasions the previous maximum was insufficient to meet the cost of an extremely complicated procedure, generally heart operations.

Police Health Plan does not aim to meet 100% of all members’ claim costs, as this would be impractical. Instead, we aim to meet an achievable, significant majority of the costs incurred by the majority of members.

Chairman of Police Health Plan, Greg O’Connor, said that the decision not to increase premiums was “a good one in the circumstances”, in the interests of holding costs for members.

Reunion for Cyprus veterans in OctoberThe Australian UN.CIV.POL who served with the UN in Cyprus, holds a re-union bi-annually.

This year, the reunion is being held in Sydney over Labour weekend.

NZ Police personnel who served in Cyprus are most welcome to attend.

The reunion will begin on Sunday, 21 October, 2007 with registration and a get together with the Cypriot community. An unveiling ceremony at the Sydney Police Centre will take place on Monday, 22 October, while a mayoral reception and official dinner will be held on Tuesday 23 October. Reunion attendees will also march during the United Nations Day parade on Wednesday, 24 October.

Accommodation is at the Vibe Hotel, 111 Goulburn Street, Sydney. This hotel is very central and a discounted rate has been negotiated for reunion attendees.

Anyone who might be interested in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the completion of NZ involvement with UNFICYP should contact Dennis Percy by Email: [email protected] for details.

Those still with ‘snail mail’ can contact Blue Caldwell on (04) 905-1066 for further details.

Insurance premium annual reviewsThe respective premiums for Fire and General Insurance (house, contents, motor vehicle and boat) and Supplementary Life Insurance are reviewed each year by our Insurances staff in conjunction with the portfolio underwriters.

While the house/home component of the Fire & General insurance portfolio is the main contributor to premium adjustments, increases vary depending upon the total risks held, location and each member’s claims history. In addition, there is a provision made for inflation. Across the whole portfolio the average increase, including inflation, is 4.52%.

Time to review your contents cover?Members are reminded that it is also worth reviewing your level of cover, especially house contents cover. Assets are accumulated over time and it is likely the level of contents cover held by many members is actually insufficient, should a major loss be suffered. If you need further information or assistance for this, contact our insurance staff through the contact details listed below.

Supplementary Life premiums are adjusted annually as members age, with renewals effective every July. This procedure is unchanged this year. As a separate exercise, we are currently reviewing the overall competitiveness of the current Supplementary Life premiums and hope to be able to introduce a new premium structure next year.

What to doMembers who pay their premiums through the Police payroll system do not have to do anything. The relevant premium increase will be automatically deducted from your pay on July 11.

Members who pay their premiums through the Police and Families Credit Union will need to ensure they have sufficient funds going into their Credit Union account to meet the relevant premium increases.

This means automatic payments to the Credit Union may need to be increased. We suggest you wait until you receive all relevant notifications before you change your automatic payment to the Credit Union, so you only need to make one change.

For any information contact the Member Services Centre:

• Through the Police Network 44446;• By Direct Dial 04 496 6800;• Toll Free 0800 500 122; or• By Email to [email protected]

Purchase your travel policy with us during the month of June 2007

and be in to win a fabulous Pantech TX-215C mobile telephone

TRAVELPAC GIVEAWAY

Dual mode (800M/1.9GHZ)310K Pixel cameraEmbedded fl ash65K CSTN colour LCDWAP 2.0/Java (J2ME) MIDP 1.0PhonebookCMX 32 Chord Polyphonic RingtonesT9 text inputVoice dialing, voice memoTTY/TDDTwo-way speaker phoneTwo-way SMSPhoto messaging(Competition is closed to NZPA staff)


105June 2007

PFWAC conference provides rewarding opportunity to network on issues facing women within the policing environment

• Greg O’Connor, President of the NZ Police Association, opens the PFWAC conference. At left is Tracey Maclennan, a Police Association director, who acted as facilitator.

By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News

New Zealand Police Association hosted the Police Federation of Australia Women’s Advisory Committee Conference (PFWAC) in Wellington recently.

Delegates were welcomed with a traditional Maori powhiri, the ritual ceremony of encounter, which was led by Luke Crawford.

During the two days of conference discussions, delegates: took part in workshops; debated the role of women in the Police; talked about the advancement of women’s careers; overcoming barriers; advocacy; goal setting; advancing women’s careers and gained insight from a broad range of speakers, all of whom spoke on various to promote the interests of women within the policing environment.

Range of speakers

Carol Train, an Equity and Diversity manager, spoke to the delegates about women’s issues in New Zealand, while psychologists Carolyn Cavana and Jane Dyer spoke about the gender and role differences in the Police and other male-dominated organisations. They spoke about identifying strengths and enhancing them in order to overcome any barriers that may be present in the workplace. Others to speak on similar themes included Association Industrial Officers, Amanda Craig and Megan Wilson while Senior Sergeant Sharon Stephens gave an overview of the leadership course for women and also spoke about the barriers women may encounter in their career and how to develop strategies to overcome them. Association Director Tracey Maclennan, who was the facilitator at the conference, gave an address outlining the role and responsibilities of a PFWAC representative.

Various topics

Gwynne Pennell, who is the NZ Police

Association representative on the Police Act Review team, gave an address on “Making a difference” while Field Officer, Jeff (JJ) Taylor spoke about “How to get involved” while Dame Margaret Bazley, one of New Zealand’s foremost women public servants, gave an address on the theme: “The importance of being involved as a women.”

Delegates told Police News that they found the experience of networking with other like-minded union advocates a rewarding one in terms of clarifying issues and developing strategies for the advancement of the issues that they felt needed to be addressed within their own jurisdictions and within the PFWAC framework.

June 2007


106

Help us recruit more police women Commissioner tells delegates

• Police Commissioner, Howard Broad, addresses delegates.

Commissioner of Police, Howard Broad, told the conference that 40 years ago just 2.4% of police officers in New Zealand were women, while currently female officers constituted just over 16% (nearly one in six officers) of the sworn workforce.

By contrast, women filled two-thirds (66%) of non-sworn positions.

“None of our 12 districts has yet broken through our own glass ceiling of 20% and even our top performing districts have struggled not to go backwards in the gender stakes,” Commissioner Broad said.

Mr Broad said Police were committed to engaging in work on gender roles and differences, barriers to promotion and leadership and he assured delegates that he and his executive were “alert and committed” to addressing these issues.

He believed the goal was to get to a point where the focus was not so much on being a woman in Police but that “we become ‘people in policing’ - where everyone was “engaged in ensuring that addressing gender issues is the responsibility of men and women in the job.”

The Commissioner said that more women were needed in the Police service, especially in the higher ranks. Police were currently running a recruitment campaign, which was geared towards recruiting more women. “We are making the numbers required of us in total, but on any given week the calls made to 0800 NEWCOPS by women run at 50% of those made by men,” Mr Broad told conference.

Police were working on encouraging women already in Police to take part in women’s leadership development courses, which encouraged women to put themselves forward for promotion, to try new experiences and challenge old attitudes. They also emphasised the importance of fostering and renewing networks, Mr Broad told the audience.

Mr Broad said the old adage about “us being our own best recruiters” was a truism. He encouraged women police officers to take up the challenge of bringing more women into the service. “I realise that everyone has enough on their collective plates without recruiting as well, but please bear in mind when a friend or family member mentions to you that she may be interested please supply her with a lot of encouragement and some of the information that might start her on the journey.”

Mr Broad said that despite a recent loss of public confidence in Police as a result of historical sexual allegations against some officers, he knew that the “vast majority” of men and women in the Police

are “professional, ethical and above all dedicated to helping their communities.”

He said the Commission of Inquiry was a “difficult, but necessary critique of Police”.

The job was to start to repair the damage and to implement the recommendations - one of which was to recruit more women into Police.

“Your continued professionalism and integrity will help us do that. Each one of you can potentially help repair the damage, particularly to potential women recruits out there who may have been left feeling unsure about whether Police is the place for them,” Commissioner Broad said.

• Luke Crawford (right) welcomes guests with the traditional Maori powhiri, which was performed by pupils from local colleges.


107June 2007

Bazley reflects on the advancement of women’s issues in the workplaceBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News

Dame Margaret Bazley, who delivered the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct report, addressed conference about the role and contribution of women in New Zealand society and the workplace.

Dame Margaret said that she could not speak specifically about the Commission of Inquiry or the report but she could speak about her experience in advancing women in the workplace.

Dame Margaret said that in a long career as a psychiatric nurse for 17 years and as a nurse for 27 years, she had learned a lot, especially during the integration of both male and female staff and patients, when she was principal nurse at Sunnyside Hospital in Christchurch.

Later, she worked in an all-women environment in Auckland and found a significant change in culture as a result. “You get a distorted culture whether it is all-male or all-female,” she said. Dame Margaret said that, in her opinion, a mixing of the genders in a workplace enhanced the employer’s ability to “get the best out of its workforce”. “If you only have one sex in a workplace you are really only getting half the benefit of the workforce and I think you need men and women at all levels within an organisation.”

Qualities

“Women bring different qualities to an organisation. They have often brought up children and they are very flexible. They look at things in a different way. In my time working at Sunnyside, I learned very early on that women won’t usually cover up things,” Dame Margaret told conference.

Dame Margaret said that the genesis for her involvement in advancing women’s issues in the workplace came from her being appointed Chief Nurse in the Health Department – the most senior job in the public service at that time. Later, in 1984, she was appointed as the first female Commissioner in the State Services Commission (SSC).

“That’s when I first got involved in the fight for equality of women in the public service and the reason I got there was because Labour came into power and people like Ann Hercus were pushing for more women to be involved in senior roles. So the political environment forced people to be there,” she said.

Support from management and PSA

She said that several senior male members of the SSC management and the Public Service Association (the union which represented public sector employees) were passionate about getting women equality in the public service.

“I think the union leaders showed real courage in advancing the role of women within their movements as most of their membership wasn’t too keen on seeing women taking jobs that they thought they should have.”

Change came within the State Services Commission when the ‘blocks’ to women advancing within the system were identified and action was taken to clear them by way of joint working parties between management and the unions. At that time there were only four women in management positions within the SSC.

“In 1986 we set about attacking all those blocks,” Dame Margaret told delegates. Parental leave, family friendly work places, job sharing and the setting up of 20 creches within the public service all followed. “We found that as these were set up there were also benefits for the men and they really appreciated them,” Dame Margaret added.

Mid-level development

She said special funds were set aside by management to develop mid-level managers and this had very positive spin-offs in “getting people through.”

Dame Margaret said that men were also at risk of suffering from stress and depression in the workplace. “They tough it out,” she said. Women brought dignity and compassion to the way people are treated, she said, adding that as a result “men have learned to be more open than in the past and I think that’s come from having a more integrated workforce.”

One of the most positive changes she had seen in the workplace was allowing parents to look after their sick children. “This was brought in for women, initially, but in no time men were applying for it too – and men were opting to stay home and look after the kids. I don’t see them as women’s things; they are policies that make for a better workforce.”

Managing change

Dame Margaret said that she had managed change most of her life and the way in which to make change, was to know where you wanted to be when you set out. “You have created the right environment by dealing with sexual harassment and that is now having positive flow-on effects in terms of women being recruited. Then you have to get those women up through the system, because once you start to do that you are going to change the bottom of the organisation as well. The way we did that in the public service was to free up the block and then to go through all the policies, establish working parties and then we went over the policies with a fine toothcomb to make sure that there was nothing in those policies that discriminated against women.”

Designing policies that move everyone forward was good for men too. “A lot of those policies don’t work too well for the men either,” Dame Margaret said. “I am not suggesting that you develop systems that allow women to get through just because they are women but I think you need systems that allow everyone to advance on merit and not have any blocks for them.”

Identifying leaders

“You need to identify your women leaders of the future and work out how they can be fast-tracked, changing time restraints and how they can get relevant experience quickly. You need to move people around so that they get a wide experience of an organisation. You need to have, initially, a separate stream of experience and education opportunities and once you get moving you don’t need those things. The people you push up initially need to be strong because they will run into opposition and they need to have the support of management and the union.”

Dame Margaret said that jobs like nursing and policing were good jobs because they offered the opportunity to help the community. “While you are dealing with the more seedy side of life there is also a hang of a lot you can do in a positive way, even if it is being a positive role model for the kids, because often you may be the only person like that those kids ever have contact with and that contact with you gives them a vision of what life could be like.”

June 2007


108

Women’s involvement at senior

levels “not just the right thing,

it’s the bright thing” - DalzielBy Steve Plowman. Editor, Police News

Minister of Women’s Affairs, Lianne Dalziel, stood in for Minister of Police, Annette King, who was unable to attend the conference.

Ms Dalziel, a former union delegate for the Service and Food Workers’ Union, said that she had been “all too aware” that many of those in low-paid work within the hospitality sector were women.

After being elected to Parliament, Ms Dalziel found herself on the Justice and Law Reform select committee, as an associate opposition spokesperson on justice.

”During the annual review of the performance of the Police in 1991, I recall the then Commissioner appearing quite surprised when I began asking questions about the number of women in the Police Force,” she said. A year later she quizzed him about how many women held senior positions, and was given assurances that Police were “making steps” around this issue. “He assured me that just over half of the latest intake of recruits had been women; and they had appointed a women’s liaison officer – it was a man, but at least it was a start,” she told conference.

Relegation

She said she had also been concerned about hearing that when women left the Police to have children, the very small number who came back did not return at the same level at which they had left. “In Parliamentary terms they were relegated to the backbenches, which made it more difficult to make their way back to their original rank or position, let alone progress any further,” Ms Dalziel said.

“That really began my interest in watching women grow within a predominantly male profession, and occupational segregation remains an area of interest for me personally and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs generally,” she told delegates.

She said she felt that there “probably hasn’t been an appreciation of how difficult it is to foot it with men in terms of professional advancement within Police” nor any apparent recognition of why it is important that women can advance alongside their male peers.

Slow growth

The Minister said that while the number of women in policing was growing, it was slow growth. Ten years ago, 14.8% of sworn police were women. In February this year, this percentage had increased to 16.5%. In terms of actual numbers, the percentages translate to 1,035 sworn women staff 10 years ago, and 1,311 today, Ms Dalziel told conference.

”In terms of the seniority of sworn women staff, there has also been a glacial improvement. Ten years ago there were five women staff ranked inspector or above and currently there are 14, contrasted to the approximately 250 male sworn officers ranked inspector or above,” she said.

COI report recommendation

Ms Dalziel referred to the specific recommendation in the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct report, which recommended the recruitment of more women and ethnic minorities into Police in order

to promote a diverse organisational culture that reflects the community it serves, and to enhance the effective and impartial investigation of complaints.

”It seems obvious to me that diversity is good for any organisation. International research into women in management and governance shows that diversity is – as one study put it – not just the right thing – it’s the bright thing,” Ms Dalziel said.

”Companies who have diversity in their board membership have been shown to out-perform those whose boards are more homogenous in their make up. This may be because they access a greater pool of talent, but it is also probably because a diverse board is able to identify a greater range of opportunities and risks. I think the same principles apply to community-focused organisations such as the Police,” Ms Dalziel added.

Sacrifices

Ms Dalziel said that hearing the first NZ women police officer to serve in Afghanistan referring to leaving behind her young children had reminded her so poignantly of the sacrifices that staff of both genders made to serve overseas.

“We are never going to develop a commitment to shared parenting, nor fully acknowledge the importance of the roles and responsibilities of both parents in the lives of their children, if we don’t allow for these choices to be made,” she said.

Ms Dalziel said that the NZ Government was committed to the core objective of finding a work-life balance in its Action Plan for New Zealand Women.

The plan identifies three key aspects of New Zealand women’s lives, which provide a focus for her Ministry’s work. These are: economic independence – which includes pay and employment equity and occupational segregation; health and well-being - which includes

• Lianne Dalziel, Minister of Women’s Affairs, addresses delegates..


109June 2007

matters like sexual and reproductive health, and sexual and domestic violence; and work-life balance, which addresses issues such as providing quality out-of-school services for working families.

Child-rearing responsibilities

”I know childcare is not only a women’s responsibility and when families are surveyed about child-rearing and household responsibilities the vast majority say, when both parents are working full-time, there should be equal sharing of household chores and childcare. When we ask them what they do in practice, they answer is quite different. It doesn’t even begin to look like equal sharing. So this is a particular issue for women,” Ms Dalziel said.

A work-life balance study, which was released last year, revealed that over half of New Zealanders rate their work-life balance as good to excellent. But 40% of workers said they have some or a lot of difficulty in getting the balance they want. This particularly applied to occupational groups such as Police and nurses, who identified as having the most difficulty in achieving the right balance.

Studies

”There are plenty of studies that show that varied hours and rotating shift work, that are the hallmark of these professions, place considerable strain on family life. So there are always going to be challenges combining these jobs with family responsibilities and, bearing in mind the reality of the greater role of women in this regard, that is something the Police hierarchy has to remain alert to if it is going to recruit and retain women to its ranks,” the Minister told delegates.

Ms Dalziel said that there are “all sorts of leadership roles in the New Zealand and Australian Police services”, and if women are encouraged to stay or return after having their children, then the direct result of that would be a growth in the number of women in those senior ranks.

Barriers

Ms Dalziel said that one of the barriers in professional life for women that she had found from a personal viewpoint, and which many police women would relate to, was “maintaining the sense of empathy that we naturally have for people, while at the same time managing to maintain a sense of professional distance.” She added: “Police and politicians alike hear many tragic stories and, “despite what many commentators may say or think, we do what we do because we want to make a difference. When we do make a difference, that’s what makes it all worthwhile and I hope that is your experience as well.”

Ms Dalziel paid tribute to Canterbury District Commander, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, saying that she had had the pleasure of working with Sandra Manderson and found her an “extraordinary individual”. “Sandra has made a difference on every level. Helping to resolve individual constituency matters through to offering leadership on whole-of-government initiatives. I mention this because she may have been the first woman to hold this position in our district, but she will be remembered for her achievements not her gender. And that is the role of the ‘first’ women – to pave the way for future generations of women to simply get on with the job,” Ms Dalziel said.

• Randolph Wierenga (Tasmania) who stood in for PFA Chief Executive, Mark Burgess, and Tasmanian delegate Sarah Mansfield listen to Laila Harre’s address.

• (At right): New Zealand delegates listen to Laila Harre’s address.

June 2007


110

Women have integral part to play in changingtheir working environment – Laila Harre By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News

Laile Harre, the National Secretary of the Northern Distribution Union, addressed conference and also conducted some workshops for delegates.

The workshops were aimed at increasing participation in Police unions in order to enhance the organisation and provide a level of service to communities through that involvement.

Ms Harre said the workshops provided a good opportunity for women within the union movement to share insights and experiences with other delegates.

She said that she headed an organisation that had a 60/40 split in male-female membership and where “machismo had sometimes been mistaken for commitment to the job.” She said that carried a risk of alienation from communities in which unions were entrenched.

Confrontational environments

Women worked in a variety of organisations that were confrontational and the policing environment was one of those where there was a responsibility to carry good ethics into the work involved.

She urged the delegates to think about “always doing things that are consistent with your values” when thinking about a contentious or challenging issue. She said her personal benchmark when considering issues was to ask herself the question: “Am I on the right side of history or the wrong side of history with this?”

Ms Harre said that the current policing climate in New Zealand presented a significant opportunity for women within Police to be actively engaged in improving things. She said the writing of the Code of Conduct was one such example.

Active role needed for change

Police leadership were engaged in trying to institute a healthy internal culture within Police and women needed to play an active role in that process.

Ms Harre said that women, particularly in male-dominated organisations, often missed the opportunity to have their experience heard and valued, leading to them being missing from key strategies. “We often talk a lot about facts and figures and research and analysis and we underestimate the real value that comes from just telling our stories and building some strategies based on those experiences,” Ms Harre said.

“Fundamentally, trade unionism is about collectively identifying issues and collectively agreeing on actions that we are going to take, in order to make the organisations that we work in more effective and to improve our own experience of working in them,” she added.

Structural barriers

Ms Harre said that many organisations had “structural barriers” to women assuming leadership roles and unions were not exempt.

“This is not because people have deliberately discriminated or shut you out, it’s because there haven’t been active opportunities for your issues, which may be the most important issues for you as a group, to be made into the most important issues for your organisation.”

“That’s why it took us donkeys’ years to get paid parental leave because women with children, for a long, long time were a minority in the workforce and therefore our needs as mothers and workers were not priorities for anybody really,” Ms Harre said.

Networking with others

Ms Harre encouraged delegates to communicate not only within their own policing networks but also with community and other organisations, in order to broaden their knowledge base of what was required to advance issues of importance to them.

Work cultures that were put in place decades ago no longer worked for the workers of today. “From the mid-1940s – married women with or without children represented 25% of the workforce; now 80% of mothers are in the workforce,” Ms Harre said.

She said that current research showed that stress would be the biggest killer in the world of the future. “In the confrontational context in which policing operates, the risks are obviously greater,” she said. “We are the ones that need to act to solve these problems and challenges,” she added.

• “80% of mothers are now in the workforce.”

• “Machismo has sometimes been mistaken for commitment to the job.”

• “Am I on the right side of history or the wrong side of history with this?”

We remember… Who passed away…

KEOGH Margaret Dawn 17-Feb-07 Spouse of retired member Southport, Brisbane

TURNER Marie 26-Apr-07 Retired member Miramar

LAWRENCE Geoffrey Peter 11-May-07 Member Papakura

SAWYER Barbara Anne 15-May-07 Member Wellington


111June 2007

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to

make mistakes.” - Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948, Indian

Peace campaigner).

“No person is your friend who demands your silence.”

- Alice Walker, (American writer).

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous

and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change.”

- Alan Cohen (author).

Budget sets Vote Police at $1.235 billionThis year’s Budget has delivered $1.235 billion to Vote Police and is appropriated as follows:

• $1.822 million (0.15% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing;

• $102.188 million (8.27% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on General Crime Prevention Services;

• $95.157 million (7.70% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on Specific Crime Prevention Services and Maintenance of Public Order;

• $369.726 million (29.94% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on Police Primary Response Management;

• $335.777 million (27.19% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on Investigations;

• $72.650 million (5.88% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on Case Resolution and Support to Judicial Process;

• $257.731 million (20.87% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) on the Road Safety Programme; and

• $10,000 (0.001% of departmental appropriation in this Vote) departmental Other Expenses for compensation paid to owners of firearms confiscated under the provisions of section 28(4) of the Arms Act 1983.

Non-departmental appropriations:• Non-departmental appropriations sought for Vote

Police in 2007/08 total $100,000. This is intended to be spent as a contribution to the United Nations Drug Control Programme.

Crown revenue and receipts• $76 million in Crown revenue in 2007/08, most of

which arises from traffic infringement fees.• The second tranche of extra frontline police officers

and additional capacity in the Justice sector for the initial flow-on effects (2007) $60.374m, (2006) $49.905m;

• Continuing the New Zealand Police's contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands and the Solomon Islands Police Force;

• $2.4 million over four years to strengthen the Police Complaints Authority so it can resolve complaints faster and further reduce its existing caseload. New legislation is before the house. (Justice);

• $1.3 million – Supported Bail Programme for young people on remand from the youth court. (Justice);

• $1.4 million for intensive intervention programmes for the most serious and dangerous youth offenders. Investing earlier in programmes to address the causes of criminal behaviour. (Justice);

• Construction of permanent premises for the Supreme Court, including refurbishment of the historic Wellington High Court (Justice);

• Implementation of the Coroners Act, including establishing the Office of the Chief Coroner, nine Coronial offices around the country with fourteen full-time Coroners and a new Coronial Services Unit in the Ministry of Justice. (Justice);

• $700,000 to maintain support for youth programmes such as Project K and AIMHI and Turn Your Life Around (Ministry of Social Development);

• $3.4 million over four years to boost support for schools dealing with gang issues in Counties-Manukau. (from MSDE);

• Funding for two more judges – one High Court and one District Court;

• $3.6 million for additional legal aid;• $2.4 million to increase the capacity of Maori

Wardens (Te Puni Kokiri) – training to be developed by the Royal New Zealand Police College;

• Funding for 200 community probation staff to run the new home detention and community detention programme. (Corrections); and

• $1.475 million (22% of the total departmental appropriation in this Vote) for the initial funding of the Serious Fraud Office to operate the non-conviction based forfeiture provisions of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill due to be passed in 2007.

June July AugustPAIHIA............................................ 7,12-14,17-20,25-29 ....................................6,9,15-19,22-26,29-31 ...........................................1,2,4-9,13-16,19-31,STANMORE BAY ............................. 7,8,12-15,17-21,23-29 .................................1,6,9-11,14-20,22-31, ............................................1-3,5-31AUCKLAND ...........................................................................................................17,24,29-31, ...........................................................5-9,13,14,19-23,27-30WHANGAMATA ............................... 7,8,10-14,17-21,24-28 .................................1,8,13,15-31 ...........................................................1-30MT MAUNGANUI ............................ 7,8,14,20,21,25-28 .......................................8,15-19,22-26,29-31 ..............................................1-3,5-16,19-31OHOPE ........................................... 7,11-15,17-20,24-29 ....................................2,3,7-10,13-31 ........................................................1-31ROTORUA ...................................... 7,8,10-14,18-20,24-28 .................................8,15-20,22-31 .........................................................1-3,5,7-17,19-25,27-29TAUPO ........................................... 8,10-14,17-19,23,25-28 ...............................1,15-20,22-26,29-31 ..............................................1,2,6,8,9,12-16,19-24,TURANGI ........................................ 7,9-19,21,25-28,30 .......................................17-19,29-31 ............................................................1,2,8,14,19,20,22-24,29,30NAPIER .......................................... 7,18-20,24-26. ..............................................14,19-21,24-26,29,30 .............................................2,5-7,10,12-29PARAPARAUMU .............................. 10,17-19,26,27,.............................................2-5,8,9,15-18,22-31 ...............................................1,2,5-9,12-16,19-22,27-31GREYTOWN .................................... 7,10-14,17-20,24-27. ....................................15-19,22-27,29-31 .................................................1-3,5-9,12-30WELLINGTON ................................. 14,21,24,25,29. .............................................22,23,31..................................................................1,6,7,19-23,26,27,30NELSON ......................................... 11,18,20-28 ..................................................1,14,17-19,22-26,29-31 .........................................1-15,19-31HANMER SPRINGS ......................... Not available ..................................................2..............................................................................1,5,9,16,21-23,29CHRISTCHURCH ............................. 14,27, ............................................................8,10,12,15-18,25-27,30,31 .....................................1,2,5-9,12,13,15,16,19-24,27-31TEKAPO ......................................... 7,18-21,24,27,28,..........................................1,8-12, ....................................................................7,22,23,WANAKA ........................................ 8-20,24,27,....................................................18,19,CROMWELL ................................... 20,22-29 .......................................................16,QUEENSTOWN ............................... 14,20,21,25-28TE ANAU ........................................ 7-9,11-30 ......................................................1-3,11-19,22-31 .....................................................1-4,6-31DUNEDIN ....................................... 7,10-13,17-21,26-29 ....................................15-17,19,20,23-31 ..................................................1,2,5-9,13-17,19-24,28-30

June 2007


112

Police Act submissions:

Don’t miss your chance to shapethe future of NZ policingDuring June and July, the rubber hits the road with consultation on proposed changes to the near 50-year-old Police Act.

All staff are encouraged to have a say on the publicly-released discussion document titled ‘Policing Directions in New Zealand for the 21st Century’.

One immediate question is ‘what’s the impact on me?’ The answer is plenty.

A wide range of ideas are proposed in the discussion document, including:

• New powers for staff e.g. the ability to obtain biometric data such as fingerprints at the roadside;

• New protections, e.g. for undercover staff;

• Better policing options, e.g. providing a legislative basis that the use of handcuffs is a reasonable use of force; and

• Improving the way search powers can be allocated to staff.

Simplified approachA further area of interest is a proposal for a more simplified approach to Police human resources. This includes a common basis for fixing conditions for all staff, ensuring only those people fully qualified to hold constabulary powers have such powers, and a Code of Conduct to apply to everyone in Police.

The discussion document outlines the Government’s proposals for the legislation, which governs how staff work and are managed on a day-to-day basis.

The officer leading the Police Act Review, Superintendent Hamish McCardle, urges staff to express their opinions and make their views known, even if it’s just on one aspect of the discussion document.

“This is a once in a career chance to ensure NZ Police has the ability to better deal with the challenges of modern-day policing,” said Superintendent McCardle.

Please be aware that the deadline for responses to the discussion document close on 31 July 2007.

For ease of reference, the discussion document is broadly broken down into the following areas:

Principles: Establishing principles for policing, which although implied now, are not stated in the 1958 Police Act.

• Maintaining Police impartiality;

• Upholding appropriate standards of conduct and integrity; and

• Providing strong links with communities.

Effectiveness:Bolstering Police effectiveness by:

• Reinforcing clear command and control of Police;

• Allowing faster identification of detained people; and

• Enabling modern policing tactics to fight serious and organised crime.

People:Ensuring Police has a modern workforce structure by:

• Strengthening pre-employment vetting;

• Creating a common set of employment conditions for all staff;

• Introducing a single Code of Conduct for all staff; and

• Tailoring the assignment of police powers to specific roles.

Platforms:Improving the oversight and management of Police by:

• Ensuring industrial action doesn’t affect policing;

• Confirming Police's legal status and functions;

• Clarifying the relationship between the Police and the Government; and

• Strengthening accountability for Police performance.

The future:Exploring ways to ‘future proof’ the legislation by:

• Allowing for technology changes;

• Potentially allowing greater use of infringement notices for lower-level offences;

• Considering integrity testing to support ethical behaviour; and

• Looking closely at cost recovery for special policing services (e.g. rock concerts).

Have your say:Copies of the full discussion document are available in English from www.policeact.govt.nz or from police stations or public libraries.

Copies of the full document and a shorter booklet version have also been sent to police stations.

Police staff have been designated as district-based consultation managers. They are responsible for organising public meetings and are also a good source of information about the consultation process.

The district consultation reps are:

District Name Position EXTN

Northland Nicole Devereux Policing Development Manager 99145

Northland Jan Johnston District Commander’s PA 99173

Waitemata Kerry Kay Policing Development Manager 96324

Auckland City Inspector John Mitchell Policing Development Manager 95874

Amcos Charl Crous Policing Development Manager 92657

Counties Manukau Inspector Jason Hewett Policing Development Manager 90655

Waikato Inspector Lex Denby Complaints Investigation Manager 79403

Bay Of Plenty Inspector John Canning Operations Manager 75611

Central Senior Sergeant Richard Smith Policing Development Officer 65517

Eastern Kris McGehan District Communications Manager 67086

Wellington Inspector Dave Allan Complaints Investigation Manager 49442

Tasman Inspector Brian McGurk Area Commander Nelson Bays 39050

Canterbury Inspector Derek Erasmus Road Policing Manager 36417

Southern Inspector Terry Richardson Operations Manager 33229

RNZPC Phil Weeks Policing Development Manager 43272


113June 2007

Association district representatives:The Association has representatives in each district, who can provide further advice on the Police Act Review (see below).

Name District Position Contact Derek Erasmus Canterbury Road Policing Manager 36417

Glenn Williams Wellington Child Abuse Team Manager 49495

Mark Revill-Johnson Counties/Manukau Response Manager 91513

Rachael Whear Counties/Manukau Emergency Response 91545

Ricky Collins Southern Business Manager 33170

Dave Evans Southern CIB 34564

John Canning Bay of Plenty Operations Manager 75611

Bill Gregory Eastern CIB Supervisor 67022

Tyrone Chaffey Eastern Iwi Liaison 68004

Shane Page Waitakere Detective 97662

Tusha Penny Wellington Child Abuse Team Manager 47617

Name Station ExtnSenior Sergeant Tim Anderson Takapuna 97742

Senior Sergeant Moera Brown Gisborne 69001

Senior Sergeant Mike Cook Alexandra 34405

Inspector Andrew Coster Harlech House 92663

Detective John Craig Hamilton 79465

Detective Sergeant Gregory Dunne Dunedin 33222

Sergeant Stephen Gibson Palmerston North 65846

Sergeant Steve Hawkins Whangaparoa 96500

Sergeant Terry Johnson New Plymouth 62025

Sergeant Craig Madden Tauranga 77014

Inspector Brian McGurk Nelson 39050

Constable Nigel Ramsden Tauranga 77021

Frontline representatives:A group of frontline representatives has also been involved in the review of the Police Act since the project began in March last year. These staff (named below) provide a further point of contact if you have any questions:

How to make your views known:The Association will be making submissions, but members are encouraged to make their own comments/submissions too.

Clues:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11

12

13 14 15

16

17 18

19

20 21

22 23

Online responses:See the consultation form on the Police Act website www.policeact.govt.nz/consultation

Public meetings: A series of public meetings will be held during June and July 2007. These will be advertised locally.

Written comments:Written comments can be made by post, fax, or Email. Send Emails to: [email protected]

Send faxes to (04) 474-2342 and/or post responses to:

Police Act ReviewPolice National HeadquartersPO Box 3017WELLINGTON

Any questions?If you have any questions about the discussion document or the consultation process you can send an Email to [email protected] or ring a Police Act Review team member on (04) 474-9499.

Use of 0800 Ten Nine phone lineAssociation representatives maintain this telephone line (0800 8366 463) on a 24-hour basis.

It is to be used ONLY for matters that cannot be deferred, such as Police shootings, fatal pursuits or deaths in custody.

Important and immediate industrial and legal advice can then be arranged through the Association networks.

Please do not phone this line for non-urgent matters.

May answers:Across:1. Plea3. Appealed9. Message10. Poses11. Hallucinator13. Entrap

Across:1. Drug search (4) 3. Post note at end of book (8) 9. Honest; truthful trait (7) 10. Gives account to (5) 11. Some wrong in a statement perhaps (12) 13. Breaks up a crowd (6) 15. Small dried grape (6) 17. Banishing war, leads to mind tampering (12) 20. A process through ones life (5) 21. Nicest; helping hand (7) 22. Tampering with (8) 23. Horse farm amongst udders (4)

Down:1. Takes back (8) 2. Internally (5) 4. Lives or resides in (6) 5. Leaving red faced (12) 6. Omits from (7) 7. Missed in foggy skies (4) 8. Truckers stop here when asked (12) 12.Became a Sir in the old scheme (8) 14. Limits on paper maybe (7) 16. Aroused (6) 18. Clumsy (5) 19. Green pastures for example (4)

15. Fiasco17. Continuance20. Amber21. Calibre22. Overdose23. Begs

Down:1. Pamphlet2. Easel4. Poetic5. Emphatically6. Lessons7. Dish

8. Manufactured12. Bouncers14. Trouble16. Knocks18. Imbue19. Halo

June 2007114

To contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139

POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORT

Visit www.policeassn.org.nz for updated contact details for the Police Council of Sport management committee,

District Sports Offi cers and the latest schedule of events.

Lawton shows skill at NIGolf ChampionshipsThe Palmerston North Police Golf Club recently hosted the Police Association North Island Golf Championships.

The tournament was played over two days (72 holes) with a field of 124 players competing.

With a strong wind building during the course of the first day, conditions proved to be testing, especially for those who drew the afternoon session. On the second day, however, conditions improved markedly with perfect conditions for golf and this was reflected in the good scores carded.

Prizes were awarded for the best stableford scores on each of the four rounds. The overall nett and gross scores were awarded on the combined four round totals.

Results were:North Island Champion (best combined gross score): Rob McCaskie (299).

North Island Champion (best combined nett score): Grant Lawton (273).

Senior division: Best Gross: Adam Bicknall (302), Bruce Millar (310), Clinton Codyre (312). Best Nett: Ash Johnstone (291), Allan O’Donnell (296), Pat Handcock (297).

Intermediate A: Best Gross: Brian Nicholas (331), Terry Johnstone (337), Matthew Campbell (337). Best Nett: Tony White (290), Jason Perry (290), Fame Troy (295).

Intermediate B: Best Gross: Pater Mahar (345), Mike Owen (349), Steve Ryburn (355). Best Nett: Jay Ferguson (282), Ron Scott (292), Graeme Hill (292),

Junior: Best Gross: Don Lee (364), Glenn Saunders (375), Kevin Anstis (380). Best Nett: Derek Webb (282), Win Van Der Velde (291), Steve Becker (294).

The organisers would like to thank the staff of the Palmerston North Golf

Club for their support and assistance, local organisations and companies that provided financial support and prizes, and the Police Association and Council of Sport for their support.

• Grant Lawton (left) receives the trophy for winner of the overall best nett score from Police Association Vice-President, Stu Mills.

• Rob McCaskie (left) receives the trophy for the best overall gross score from Police Association Vice-President, Stu Mills.

Police triathlon team compete at National ChampionshipsThe National Triathlon Championships were held in Wellington on 31 March in squally conditions and as part of a new Council of Sport initiative, a Police team was selected to compete after the recent National Police Triathlon.

The previous day, the weather was looking promising with clear skies and very little wind. However on raceday Wellington certainly lived up to its reputation as the ‘windy city’.

Racing got under way with the men heading off two minutes ahead of the women. Choppy waters made the swim very tough and things didn’t get any easier, the head winds around the bays making the biking very hard work.

Short courseThe pick of the disciplines was the run around Oriental Parade, not only being flat but shortened due to a misunderstanding by race marshals.

Bruce McLean (Wanaka) was first home of the team with Donalda Cromb (Wellington) finishing strongly to be first of the women’s team to finish.

It was a great opportunity for the team to represent the Police in their chosen sport and there was a fine team spirit on the day.

Team Manager, Mike Oxnam, did his usual sterling job and the team appreciated this and and the outstanding support they received from both the Council of Sport and the Police Association.

Results:Men: Women

Bruce McLean 2.02.47 Donalda Cromb 2.37.34

Jeff McGrath 2.11.19 Nicky Spicer 2.37.51

Glenn Turner 2.16.56 Cheryl McGrath 2.44.22

Matt Stone 2.17.56 Carolyn Martin 2.50.50

Neil Holden 2.28.23 Janine White 3.01.24


115June 2007

This column is written by a frontline police officer. It does not represent the views or policies of the Police

Association.

by Ricky Collins

A look at MartinboroughOne of New Zealand’s most popular wine festivals is held each year at Martinborough, a small boutique wine region in the Wairarapa. In November each year, thousands take the trip from Wellington over the Rimutakas to spend the day enjoying the region’s wine and food. So far I’ve never made it up to this showpiece of the region, but I recently spent a few days at the Association’s

new holiday home at Greytown, so took the opportunity to visit a few Martinborough vineyards and taste a few of their recently released wines.

Martinborough wineries are well known for their superb but often pricey Pinot Noir. On this trip I was keen to see what other varieties did well there, and hopefully find some interesting wines at everyday drinking prices. So, here are some notes on three, $20 or under wines, I really enjoyed, plus one slightly more expensive but stunning Pinot Gris.

2006 Te Kairanga Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc RRP $17I often struggle with the big, pungent gooseberry flavours of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but sometimes find the more subtle tropical nature of Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc a little ho hum. If you can relate to that, then give this Martinborough example a try. It has vibrant tropical aromas, and intense passionfruit and gooseberry flavours. The palate is crisp, without attacking your taste buds, and there is good length. This is definitely my kind of Sauvignon Blanc.

2006 Palliser Estate Martinborough Riesling RRP $18I’ve been a keen follower of this wine for a number of years, and this latest vintage didn’t disappoint. It has its traditional spicy, citrus nose and clean lemon and lime flavours. There is enough acid there to carry it for some years, and it has excellent length. It’s an off dry style of wine that should appeal to both dry and medium Riesling followers. Pair this up with an Asian stir-fry to get the best out of the wine.

2006 Ata Rangi Lismore Pinot Gris RRP $28I’m not normally a big fan of Pinot Gris, but this wine is one out of the box. It has enticing aromas and luscious nut and tropical fruit flavours with a hint of spice on the finish. It has a beautiful creamy palate, with no suggestion of alcohol heat. It’s a seamless wine that I would rate as the best example of New Zealand Pinot Gris that I’ve tried. Be warned, once opened it won’t be going back in the fridge.

2006 Burnt Spur Russian Jack Pinot Noir RRP $20It was great to find a number of examples of Martinborough Pinot Noir around the $20 price bracket, although a number were quite simple and light bodied. However, this wine from the Burnt Spur Vineyard is a very appealing wine. It’s a medium bodied Pinot, deep crimson in colour and with a vibrant hue. It has spicy plum and berry fruit flavours and fine tannins on the finish. While it’s primarily a fruit driven wine, there is enough oak there to add complexity. It offers more than the price suggests and is well worth a try.

Ar#e about face!!!We’ve witnessed more tragedies over the last month or so with madmen (generically speaking) behind a steering wheel committing atrocious offences and, on occasions, killing themselves or others in the process.

Maybe it’s time we reviewed some of the vehicles we let our youngsters drive? Maybe we should also have a look at who the focus should be on and where the blame really lies as they do in many international jurisdictions?

Now, I’m not saying we don’t need to be careful but the law obliges you to stop for the Red and Blues and if you don’t and cause some carnage along the way it is the offender who should be held accountable and feel the full weight of the justice system. It’s the driver’s decision to run, for whatever reason, and I am hopeful (forever) that we will soon see the courts saying enough is enough!

What’s in a measurementWell everything really. I see and hear (particularly from the north) we still have some of our commanders not wanting to engage resources in gangs, drugs and bugging the villains as it doesn’t fit their performance criteria. Now I can see very easily why you wouldn’t focus on the aforementioned if you don’t get measured on it, so this says to me (and a few of me mates, not all being constables either), that we need to have a wee squizz at what we are measuring.

One for the ‘Broad Sword’ and his holiness ‘The Pope’ methinks. They are both good southern men who have been around the block often enough to know these things matter in our crime fighting and the odd rumour would suggest that some of these things can drive other crime – “Ya don’t say!” - I hear a few of you yell.

A sad dayWell, you heard it here first folks. Looks like this fella is going to have to sit down with the Mrs and discuss the ‘power imbalance’ in our relationship. No guesses for which way it goes fellas!

Anyway, with me soulmate a rank or two above (thank goodness as someone has to bring home the real bacon) then prohibition is on the way. Tongue-in-cheek you may think but let’s hope someone with commonsense gets hold of this one!!!

Storm warningDon’t ya get the feeling that our friends from Africa are starting to up the ante with the oval ball. The first step was some outstanding performances in the Super 14 and now we are gearing up for the Tri Nations. She’s gonna be a very interesting month or two. And never write off the Ockers. Maybe they should get the Ponting boy on the field to sort out a few issues and that would make them a tricky hurdle come September.

Either way, it all makes for a delectable six months. – See ya!

New SAR and SSGallowance ratifiedSearch and Rescue members along with Specialist Search Group members, recently ratified a variation to the sworn collective agreement.

A superable allowance equal to 3% of total remuneration is now payable. A superable allowance of 1.5% can be retained if a member leaves his or her respective squad with four or more years service and remains available to assist where required. Members welcomed the change by solidly voting in support of it.

June 2007


116

A not so lucky leprechaun costs speeders a pot of gold

Police Network 44446 Website www.policeassn.org.nzFreephone 0800 500 122 Police Home Loans 0800 800 808Police Health Plan/Police Fire and General Insurance Police Credit Union 0800 429 000Quotes & information 0800 500 122 or (04) 472 9645or Fax (04) 496 6819 Credit Union www.policecu.org.nzPolice Fire and General Insurance claims 0800 110 088 GSF information 0800 654 731All enquiries (04) 496 6800 PSS information 0800 777 243

Vice PresidentsRichard Middleton (027) 277 9846

Stuart Mills (027) 268 9416

Field Offi cers Northland and Auckland Districts: Stewart Mills (027) 268 9407

Waikato, BOP and Eastern Districts: Eric Newman (027) 268 9408

Central and Wellington Districts: JJ Taylor (027) 268 9409

Tasman and Canterbury Districts: Dave McKirdy (027) 268 9410

Southern District Dave Steel (027) 268 9427

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

Regional DirectorsRegion One Steve Hawkins Whangaparoa (027) 268 9419

Region Two Mark Leys Papatoetoe (027) 268 9413

Region Three Mel Ridley Tauranga (027) 268 9414

Region Four Luke Shadbolt Hastings (027) 478 9001

Region Five Ron Lek Wellington (027) 268 9417

Region Six Craig Prior Sydenham (027) 268 9412

Region Seven Tracey Maclennan Invercargill (027) 268 9418

Useful Information & Contacts

Ever wish there was someone who could step into your world,

take your whole fi nancial reality and organise it to your best

advantage to fast track your goals? Goals like home ownership,

buying a new boat or investing for retirement?

Are you wanting to better manage your cash resource and

put it to work more effectively, looking to identify the best

savings or investment strategy to meet your objectives, to

borrow funds for a residential or commercial property, to fund

a business? Do you need help to identify how your insurance

protection fi ts with your overall fi nancial set-up, are your

family and your assets adequately protected? - effective

structures help you take control of your fi nancial future and

can deliver a greater sense of fi nancial security.

Call the Police Financial Planning Enquiry Line 0800 ON BEAT

(0800 662 328) to meet with one of our expert fi nancial

advisers in a complimentary no-obligation consultation about

long-term fi nancial planning or for specifi c advice on cash

management, investment strategies, debt (mortgages and

other loans), insurance protection, tax, fi nancial structures,

estate planning, specialist advice on your GSF and PSS

membership and other benefi ts.

Making the most of your hard work.

SP1230 Police CS v2.indd 1 15/5/07 4:26:43 PMPolice in Orlando, Florida, hit upon a novel idea of catching speeding motorists recently – they dressed an officer in a leprechaun outfit and had him dance on the side of the road with a notice warning drivers to slow down.

Motorists who chose to ignore the warning sign soon found that there was no pot of gold behind the dancing roadside leprechaun, only speeding tickets, according to a recent Associated Press report.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department officer was dressed in a green leprechaun outfit with a hat, tight white knickers and a fake red beard. He held a sign declaring: “Watch your speed or it will cost you your pot of gold.”

Warning not heededEven despite the lucky green man’s warning, many motorists chose to ignore the sage words of advice and were clocked exceeding the speed limit and

issued with tickets by motorcycle officers who were parked nearby.

Officers ended up issuing a ticket a minute at the height of the traffic ‘sting’.

Orange County officers had tried a similar ploy last Christmas – with an officer dressed in an elf’s outfit. Speeders complained that being stopped by a deputy in costume was entrapment but a police spokesman said that was “ridiculous”, adding: “The elf didn’t force anybody to speed.”


117June 2007

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.

Write it here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.

SRBA delays untenableMy colleagues and I are stunned by how the issuing of the SRBA body armour has become such a complete farce. After almost 18 months of waiting (slightly longer than the initial 10 weeks we were told), Canterbury staff are now following the North Island and having the SRBA delivered to them (kind of). On day two of the roll out in Canterbury, almost half of the staff on my section alone ended up not having the vests issued to them because they had run out of their size already.

I was one of the few that did have SRBA issued but I’m as infuriated as the staff that missed out on the lack of vests in their sizes, as they were told it could be another six months for them to get issued. If 10 weeks can be stretched to 18 months, how many years can six months be stretched out to? Flashback 18 months, and the question is just why did we bother having those initial measurements done?

Surely, having the measurements would have given Police some idea of how many are needed of each size (you would think). Even if suppliers changed, I’m sure they could interpret the measurements supplied to suit their style of vest. We have all heard the excuses trumped out to us about supply problems, lack of fabric etc, but shouldn’t these matters have been addressed at the time of the tender? Isn’t that why tenders are put out? None of us care about these excuses anymore; nothing can justify these delays continuing for so long at this late stage.

How many of the staff responsible for this will fall on their swords when some poor cop who has not been issued SRBA falls on some offender’s knife (none I am sure)? It’s getting a bit old having all these senior officers patting themselves on the back about how great they are for improving the safety of staff when all we are continuing to get are excuses and delays. I do applaud the Police for getting the vests but are very disappointed in the way their delivery has been handled. Police have survived for years without vests. But once a new safety item is offered it should then be the Police’s top priority to deliver them quickly and efficiently in order to keep staff safe, not just talk about how great it will be when it happens. The excuses need to stop, and someone has to stand up, show some leadership and stop this debacle.

Carl Christensen(Christchurch)

SRBA delays put staff at riskI have just seen on the news another staff member was stabbed in the North Island. I understand that he had not been issued his stab-resistant body armour (SRBA) but still took the decision that the majority of us take - to go to work without the equipment that we deserve and require, in order to come home safely should things go pear shaped!

This might not mean much to the 9-5, three breaks a day, office dwellers that sit in the towers and don’t deal with offenders. The constant wringing of their hands apologetically about the SRBA delays, blaming process, manufacture, design, sizing and any other issue for their inability to manage this situation has achieved nothing. I guess that was the idea, pass the parcel always was a great game to play.

I want to know where does the buck stop? If I make a mistake on the street I am rightly held accountable for that decision. Who is accountable in this situation? I don’t want a generic policy or process answer, or an excuse that this is the biggest purchase. Who is going to say sorry for all this?

To date, I can recall three officers that have been injured (two in Auckland and the most recent event) as a direct consequence of these delays. I suspect more incidents exist but they have not reached that attention of the national media.

Four years ago, I bought my own vest from the USA. I filled out a simple measurement chart with about 8-10 measurements. It cost $2500 and it arrived in eight weeks, fits perfectly and I have worn it every shift since then. It is amazing to me that a single customer received that level of service from a manufacturer. What would they do in order to obtain a 6,000 unit order?

I never had to be “fitted” by some specialist (which is one of the reasons for the delays). It either fits or it doesn’t. If all else fails, look on the Intranet under Online Library/SSST/Defensive Tactics/SRBA...there’s a whole book on SRBA. Just read it, follow the instructions and off you go!

To fellow staff members, I applaud your willing decision to go to work in the current environment knowing full well the danger you are putting yourselves in. To the administration, who rely on that willingness knowing full well that staff are at risk, I don’t know how you can look at yourself in the mirror.

Ryan Mitchell(Oamaru)

Take their patches andnegate their powerAnyone who thinks that not banning the wearing of gang patches and colours is a good idea obviously hasn’t read the very excellent book “Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers’ Global Crime Empire” (pub. 2006) by William Marsden and Julian Sher, nor their equally-excellent “The Road to Hell: How the Biker Gangs are Conquering Canada” (pub. 2003.)

In particular, Marsden and Sher note that how, in the early 1990’s, representatives of opposing gangs had a sit-down in Paris “…to prevent all-out war (amongst themselves) and to make a peaceful division of the continent. Both clubs wanted to avoid Police and government countermeasures that could slow their expansion…”

Marsden and Sher go on to state that “..in Germany, Hamburg officials had already outlawed the wearing of the Hells Angels patch, grounding the club and rendering it practically invisible (emphasis mine). An Angel without his patch was clipped. The bikers wanted to forestall more of that kind of legislation…”

Part of the whole ethos of having a patch, having a colour, is to be able to wear it. Remove the opportunities to flaunt it and, in part, some of the “power” of the gang, and of that individual, is removed.

After all, if the gangs themselves don’t like not being able to wear their patches why should the good folk in society do otherwise?

Trevor W.A. Morley(Wellington)

Gang patches - a casefor media censorshipI have mixed feelings about the banning of gang regalia. However, if the media could be persuaded to blank out the identifying logos when they report incidents, then this would have the effect of not giving a particular gang any publicity. Afterall, it is quite noticeable, especially when there are cameras present, that we get displays of intimidating behaviour.

By all means show the behaviour. But do not identify the actor’s gang. Keep up the good work.

Geoff Benge(Waikanae)

June 2007


118

Refreshing view of President,as one of usPage 95 of the May issue of Police News gives a refreshing photo of our President, Greg O’Connor. Normally, we see photos of Mr O’Connor giving a speech somewhere or presenting an award to someone for something. This photo is different. It shows him one finger typing, it shows him with the keyboard at arms length which indicates he needs new glasses, it shows him unsure as to which button to push next, it shows him under great strain, not smiling like he normally is. I guess he is just like the rest of us.

Dave Dunbar(Papamoa)

Thanks Dave. Yes and with a bit of effort we might get him up to two-finger typing, which might mean I get his President’s column earlier. We live in hope. – Editor.

Time to toughen up penalties for failing to stop?Any death on our roads is a tragedy. However, once again we are in the media over Police pursuits/Police driving.

In light of recent media coverage and bias I think the question is this: Are the reasons we have so many pursuits due to the minor way the offence is dealt with?

Failing to stop on its own is only a $10,000 fine (maximum) and is often the first charge that gets dropped in a plea deal or is treated as a conviction and discharge.

Is it time Police took the first step and pushed for a law change? Is an increase in the penalty needed to suit the risks to the public and ourselves? Do we need a term of disqualification and a term of imprisonment for offenders?

I’m not sure what the answer to the problem is but I do know that the present fine-only system does not work.

The other area of concern is that offenders know our policy and will do anything to get the pursuit called off. We know that after stopping our cars to abandon the pursuit, the offender does not just slow down and say: “Good they stopped so I can slow down”. No, they continue to drive as they were to get out of the area and the risk continues.

This is one area that the Police will always be between a rock and a hard place but the ready critics should not lose sight of the fact that the people behind the wheel, who choose to run from Police, must bear the overall responsibility for their actions.

G Hartley(Counties-Manukau)

Support was greatIn June 2004 I was involved in a police shooting. The Police Complaints Authority investigation and report is now complete

and my wife and I can get on with our life. I’d just like to say a big thanks to the Police Association for their financial assistance and support and the support of my peers during this time.

“Very grateful”(Name and district withheld for reasons of privacy)

Support in trying times appreciatedI am writing this letter on behalf of my wife and I to say thanks to the many people who gave their time and assistance to us as the result of an incident I was involved in three years ago.

A normal midweek late shift erupted into a situation whereby I had no choice but to use a firearm to protect staff and myself. This matter has finally run its course in the criminal courts and the PCA.

Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to those staff who attended the scene in the first instance and to those who did the hard yards afterwards. Having worked on a couple of these myself, I know the amount of work required and the close scrutiny of the media, the public and Police HQ. There are too many people to mention by name but I would like to make special mention of Misty, Marty and those attending frontline staff, who I have no doubt prevented a loss of life occurring on this occasion due to their actions and subsequent care at the time.

I would also like to thank the Glenfield CIU staff and Takapuna CIB late shift that took charge of what must have been a chaotic scene, to say the least. It was very surreal to see it from a different point of view. I haven’t forgotten I owe a few beers to various people and hope to swing by the office someday soon.

I must also thank Tony Lindsay, who has recently retired, and his associates from the Police Association and Police Welfare Fund, who swung into action right from the beginning. The support was appreciated and no doubt facilitated my early return to work.

This has been my second time in my short but exciting career to date in which I have had legal assistance from the Police Association. At a time when financial concerns should be the least of my worries, I was grateful I was able to put that aside and deal with the matter at hand.

I would also like to thank those who went out of their way to make my wife feel included in the process - she was a rock during this time and I know she appreciated being involved where she could.

Finally, thanks to all those who came and saw me during this time – your belief and support of my actions, before having to see where the inquiry went and the subsequent decisions around that, means more to me than any court decision or tribunal decision.

“Mr and Mrs A”(Name and district withheld for reasons of privacy)

Merit awards criteriaI am writing this subsequent letter in reply to the information supplied by Natalie Thornton (PNHQ) after I wrote to Police News about the criteria for merit awards.

I thank her for referring me to the General Instructions (GI’s), which tell me what sort of awards are available, but that doesn’t really answer the question. I don’t know what Constable McLaughlin’s Area Controller and District Commander wrote in the report but how can a person who is in charge of a file rate a higher award than a person who physically risks their life to apprehend an armed offender?

Having read G.I. M052 Royal Honours for Gallantry, Bravery or Meritorious Service, I’d have thought this selfless act in apprehending an armed offender whilst unarmed would have fallen into that category rather than an internal order.

I am saddened by this response as it shows a real lack of support and attitude of giving credit where credit is due. It would appear that the merit system has been usurped by some among our hierarchy, just like the Ten One magazine, in order to push their own agendas and promote the work of their friends. This clearly shows that it doesn’t pay to put your life on the line for this job, as Police management will not show you the proper recognition for your actions. I cannot see how under any circumstances being the O/C of a file (regardless of the seriousness of the matter investigated) rates a gold merit when the actions by Constable McLaughlin only get a bronze merit award.

I have been in similar situations to Constable McLaughlin in the past, only to have my area controller throw out the reports written by my Senior Sergeant. Maybe my face didn’t fit. In one incident I was written up for recognition involved an offender armed with a bow and arrows. The offender had attacked his elderly mother and was destroying the house. I climbed a small wall to see where the offender was when he appeared at the window and took aim at me with the bow. A sergeant and I were on the opposite side of the house to the sergeant’s vehicle and firearms. The sergeant would not go back to the vehicle to get the firearms as it meant crossing the front of the house. I took his keys and made the trip myself, issuing firearms to arriving staff, so we could contain the offender until the Armed Offenders’ Squad (AOS) arrived. After the incident was resolved and the offender was taken into custody with the aid of a Police dog, we went back to the scene and found that the offender had fired three arrows at the point on the wall where I had been standing. I was lucky that I moved and the arrows missed.

In another situation, I was O/C Waitakere TPU and had started developing procedures in shield use to arrest violent offenders. We


119June 2007

were called to assist section staff with a known armed violent offender who had assaulted his wife and barricaded himself in the house. The offender was a regular customer and was usually dealt with by AOS due to the weapons issue. On this occasion, AOS refused to attend. After three hours of trying to negotiate with him I had discussions with the Senior Sergeant present and my team. As a result, we decided to try and arrest the offender using our new procedures. We forced entry and found that the offender had hidden in a roof cavity. There was a strong smell of petrol in the house and wires could be seen where the offender was hidden. Further negotiations took place but the offender refused to surrender. We got the Fire Service to attend due to the fire risk. A hole was punched in the roof and with the aid of thermal imaging the location of the offender was pinpointed. A fire hose was put through the roof hole, which the fire crew assured us would stop any fire from starting. Two of my staff volunteered to go up to the roof and arrest the offender.

These guys risked their lives to arrest this offender. I wrote a report and forwarded it through my supervisors to our District Commander. Nothing happened. I sent it through again and surprise, surprise still nothing. I kept pushing for two years before the guys got some recognition - a simple District Commander’s Commendation from the new District Commander.

Our hierarchy needs to be more loyal to the staff and show more appreciation. I can say I’m pretty lucky at the present time in that I have a very good Area Controller in Inspector Knowles and a very good District Commander in Superintendent Manderson. Both are willing to show their appreciation for the work that the frontline staff do. I think with the new Code of Conduct that the old ‘buddy’ system for recognition needs to be replaced with a fairer one. From what I have heard of the Commission of Inquiry, I believe that it said that the Police Act and G.I.’s were antiquated. I think that says it all.

In relation to Amanda Craig’s reply from the Association about stab resistant body armour, this sounds like something I would have expected from the department not our Association. Uniformed officers are required to wear the SRBA overtly, in other words, over their shirt not under it next to the skin, so the reasoning behind two covert covers (pardon the pun) doesn’t sit well. If I am wearing it overtly then it is outside my uniform shirt and not coming into contact with my skin.

Jim Currie(Christchurch)

A big thanks for an enjoyable 22 yearsBy the time members read this letter of ‘thanks’ and ‘goodbye’ I will be approximately two weeks from leaving the greatest job and people

I have had and known during my working career in NZ and the US.

After over 22 years at the Royal New Zealand Police College I have decided to retire on my 60th birthday. During this time, I have met some great people who do an excellent job in a very professional manner.

Many of you I have met when you came to the Police College to do a course and advance your skills. In particular, the Instructors’ Course, which enabled you and I to work to develop your skills to be an effective trainer/instructor/presenter. What satisfaction I derived from seeing you on day one and then by the end of the course with the confidence and skills to meet any challenge out there in the ‘real’ world. I’d like to share with you all my last ‘story’ of the cave, to warn you about what you could encounter out there.

When I think about what has kept my passion for policing, I must admit it’s been the people and work variety. A long time ago I realised if I was going to maintain my sanity I needed to go with the times. I’ve always felt that from working in partnership with sworn members for the same common goal. Many of you, through the years, have asked my advice and opinion on issues e.g. interviewing factors of both verbal and non-verbal communication. I’ve found it very satisfying that you respected my opinion, just as I respected your opinions and positions. Working behind the scenes in a minor way and seeing you have success was extremely rewarding for me. I also appreciate the members who gave me feedback as I was developing various interviewing strategies. Your real life experiences made these strategies more creditable.

The New Zealand Police have been excellent in recognising my skills and sending me overseas in the early stage of my career to advance these skills. I’m truly indebted to them.

I would like to recognise the excellent work and relationship I have had with the Police Association over the years. When the opportunity for non-sworn to join up arose I was one of the first in the line at the College to do so. Through the years, I have served on the committee and of more recent years been the chairperson of the College branch.

The relationship with National Office and the College has been great, working together to resolve situations. I’ve always felt the Association has been fair and professional. I always felt that the field officers, industrial officers and the President respected our opinion and were genuinely interested in feedback.

The benefits are outstanding. You get holiday homes of such quality at great prices.

I would like to say thanks to the Police Health Plan team for the excellent work they do. Recently, we had a major illness in our family and the PHP staff were outstanding, being supportive and flexible during this time. I salute all of you with the utmost respect and heartfelt thanks from my family.

Well, it is time to pack up those memories and move on to the next phase of my life. I have been so lucky to have known you during the years and wish you all the best in the future. I pray you will have as much satisfaction as I have had through the years.

Horst Erich Maczuga(Royal New Zealand Police College 1985-2007)

Letters and the public domainWriters of letters should be aware that the Police News goes into the media, political and public forums and is available in public libraries throughout New Zealand.

Recently, the Association has become aware of one reporter in particular who has been ringing writers of letters to Police News trying to illicit further comment from them on policing matters. While we are fully aware that it takes time and effort to put pen to paper or Email letters and that often these reflect strongly held opinion, we think it timely to remind members that, if in doubt, as to how to handle media inquiries please feel free to say “No comment” and refer them to the National Office of the Police Association (04) 4966-826 or the President for comment.

Christmas holidayhome ballotA ballot will take place for the holiday homes over Christmas-New Year, due to the huge demand for the homes during this period.

Every sworn and non-sworn member of the Welfare Fund will be sent an Email to his or her Police Email address. The Email will contain a link to apply on-line.

The ballot runs from 29 December 2007 until 1 February 2008. Entries are limited to one per member. Ballots are for seven nights and apply to all holiday home units.

All entries must be received no later that 13 August 2007 and winners of the ballot will be notified by the end of that week. If you require any further information please contact the Member Services Centre on 0800 500 122 or extn 44446.

SUPPLEMENTARY LIFE INSURANCE

For more information, contact the Police Welfare Fund

Customer Services Centre toll-free on

0800 500 122www.policeassn.org.nz

Supplementary Life Insurance provides very competitively

priced life insurance to Police Welfare Fund members.

Designed to supplement the Group Life Insurance for sworn

and non-sworn members, as well as providing great value

insurance for retired members and their partners.

Supplementary Life Insurance offers cover to ensure your

family’s quality of life is protected in the event of your death.

We also offer Vital Care coverage that helps you to avoid

fi nancial stress should you develop a critical illness.

Protect your family’s quality of life

Enhancing the wellbeing of Police and their families

Documents

Police News June 07.indd