Who is lining up to follow in their - New Zealand Police Association

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005From the PresidentWhy is it everyone fancies him orherself as an expert on policingdespite having no background inthe profession?Policing and politicsPolicing is not in the least bitpoliticised. Yeah right!The Government has just promisedus 250 community police officers if itis re-elected. Now call me picky butI thought the Commissioner was theperson who is supposed to know mostabout how police resources are bestdeployed.Evidently not.He told us in this very publication(Letters to the Editor, August 2005)that he has been advocating privatelyfor more frontline response troops. Weknow that the District Commandersare requesting more frontline responsetroops. We certainly know thateveryone working in frontline responseis advocating more frontline troops.And so we get 250 more communitycops, with ring-fenced funding ofcourse.Don’t get me wrong. Community copsare a good idea and the good onesperform a great role of connecting usto the public and sorting problemsin a way we just don’t get time to dowhen we are flat out responding anddelivering outputs.But how much time are our current 250community cops spending communitycopping and how much time pluggingholes in the frontline and on specialoperations? About the same amountas the new 250 will spend if we don’tbackfill the sections, groups and CIUs.I can just imagine the media outcrynext time school staff get attacked indaylight by criminals and a communityconstable is walking the beat in anearby shopping centre unable to beused for reactive work. We have aleadyseen that with other ring-fenced partsof Police.If we have an engine problem in ourcar, we don’t tell the mechanic howto fix it, we tell him the problem andexpect him to fix it as cheaply and aseffectively as possible.The politicians telling the PoliceCommissioner how he must deployhis staff is the same as us giving themechanic detailed instructions, whichhe could carry out and yet may still notfix the engine?Why is it everyone fancies him orherself as an expert on policingdespite having no background in theprofession? Policing by talkback is whatwe end up with.We’ve seen what happens when AllBlack coaches start getting influencedby public opinion. We trust Henry andCo because they know a lot more aboutrugby than we do. But we wouldn’tbe asking them how best to deploy250 new police staff. It’s a shame thepoliticians don’t think the sameway.Unsung heroism a hallmark of daily policingThere has been a lot of negativepublicity around policing this year– some of it deserved and some not so.But through it all, the one consistencyhas been the dedication of everydaypolice officers and support staff toget on with their job to the best oftheir abilities no matter how muchcontroversy has been played out invarious media forums.That has long been the hallmark of theprofessionalism of the NZ Police andlong may it be so.One recent incident in Christchurchaptly demonstrates the dedication tohelping others that many police officersdeliver day in and day out to the public,regardless of whether they are on dutyor not.On Saturday, 18 June at about 2 a.m avehicle travelling west on New BrightonRoad in Christchurch crashed into theAvon River near Lake Terrace Road.Two occupants trappedThe vehicle was upside down in thewater with only the rear portion of thevehicle visible. The two occupants weretrapped inside.Two off duty constables, Martin Stilesand Dominic Robinson happened uponthe scene on their way home fromwork.Marty Stiles dived into the waterand started to assist two members ofthe public who were already in theriver, trying to lend assistance to theoccupants of the car. Dom Robinsongrabbed a wheel brace from his vehicleto break the windows of the submergedvehicle and also entered the river.One member of the public, who wasexhausted, left the water at this stagedue to the extremely cold conditions.Nobody present had witnessed theaccident and so the officers wereunable to ascertain whether there wasanyone was still inside the vehicle. Dueto murky underwater conditions theofficers had to largely work by feel.FatalityAfter a thorough check of the frontof the vehicle, both officers started asearch of the rear of the car. ConstableStiles ducked under the water andsearched the back of the vehicle whileConstable Robinson held onto Martyso he wouldn’t become trapped. Martywas able to bring one of the occupantsto the riverbank but unfortunately thepassenger had died.By this stage the other member ofthe public was also exhausted andConstable Robinson aided him to thebank before returning to the vehicleto continue with the search. ConstableStiles located and retrieved anotheroccupant, who was transferred towaiting St John’s Ambulance and FireBrigade staff. The second occupant waslater revived and has since made a fullrecovery.Constable Robinson and a fire officercontinued to search the vehicle untilsuch time as they were satisfied therewere no other occupants.– Steve Plowman.Have you moved recently?If you have or perhaps you’re about to,please let us know so we can update yourrecords. You can do this by:• writing to us at PO Box 12-344;• calling on freephone 0800 500 122;• faxing us on (04) 496 6819;• or emailing us at:membership@policeassn.org.nz.You need to let us know yourmembership number, new address andif you’re a serving member - your newstation.159

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceFund the frontline:Public overwhelmingly want anincrease in frontline policingNew Zealanders overwhelmingly wantmore police.These are just two of the findings ofa wide-ranging July UMR Researchnationwide omnibus survey of 750New Zealanders. The survey polledpeople 18 years of age and older. It hasa margin of error of +/– 3.5%.The survey also found that the twomain reasons the public want morefrontline police was to improveemergency response capabilities and todeal with gangs and organised crime.The survey completely vindicatesthe position taken by the PoliceAssociation in calling for additionalresourcing of the frontline, dealingwith organised crime/gangs and thethreat methamphetamine poses inundermining New Zealand society.The Association has called for additionalresourcing in policing which would see10,000 sworn officers by 2010. NewZealand has one of the lowest police-topopulationratios in the Western world.The Association has consistentlypointed out that when increases havecome they have been tagged or ringfencedto go into specific areas, withMass exodus of police officers in SlovakiaSlovak police, armed forces andintelligence services are in danger ofa massive loss of staff and subsequentcollapse.Last year over 1600 police officers andinvestigators left the force, mostly tothe private sector, which is ready topay for their experience.little regard to the frontline shortages.Of the estimated 248 additional staffas a result of the Budget in May, 188are tagged for funding positions. Thisleaves 60 positions left to enhancefrontline and first response capabilitynationwide.The Association has previouslyhighlighted the problems associated withfrontline shortages leading to difficultymeeting the 10-minute standard forattending P1 (Priority One) calls.Here are the key findingsFrontline police numbers:The survey asked: As far as you areaware are there too many, about the rightamount or not enough frontline police inNew Zealand today?• 78% felt there were not enoughfrontline police, 17% felt there wasabout the right amount and 2%felt there were too many. 3% didn’tknow.• The strongest argument forincreasing police numbers was“more police are needed so thatpolice can quickly attend toemergency situations”. 86% found14 Murphy’s Law rules worth remembering…1. Bullet proof vests aren’t bullet proof.2. The bigger they are, the harder theyfall. They also punch, kick and chokeharder too.3. The speed at which you respond to afight call is inversely proportional to howlong you’ve been a cop.4. Tear gas works on cops too, andregardless of wind direction, will alwaysblow back in your face.5. High speed chases will always proceedfrom an area of light traffic to an area ofextremely heavy traffic.6. You can never drive slow enough toplease members of the public who don’tneed a cop, and you can never drive fastenough to please the ones who do.7. Placing a gun back in a shoulderholster with your finger on the trigger willcause you to walk with a limp.8. Any suspect with a rifle is a better shotthan any cop with a pistol.9. If you have cleared all the rooms andmet no resistance, you and your entryteam have probably kicked in the door ofthe wrong house.10. If a cop swings a baton in a fight, heor she will hit other cops more often thanthe bad guys being swung at.11. Domestic arguments will alwaysThe Finance Ministry, according toa report by Internet news serviceSlovensko.com, plans to cancel twolevels of pay for some categories ofstate employees, including the SlovakiaPolice Force. The police officers willnot lose their long service bonuses.According to the head of the policeunion, Miroslav Litva, they wouldthis “convincing” (including 64%who found it “very convincing”)with 8% finding this argument “notconvincing”.• There was also strong support for“more police are needed to deal withthe increasing problem of organisedcrime and gangs in New Zealand”.78% found this “convincing”(including 50% who found it “veryconvincing”) and 7% did not find it“convincing”. There was also verystrong endorsement of argumentsthat, “more police are needed toensure New Zealanders can feel safein their local neighbourhood afterdark”; “more police are needed todeal with the P drug problem” and“more police are needed to ensurethat large numbers of police files arenot left unassigned such as happenedrecently in Counties-Manukau”.Visibility of police:The survey asked: Are the police visible inyour local community, other than in trafficenforcement roles?• 50% of respondents declared thatpolice were visible in their localcommunity, other than in traffic/road policing enforcement roles.New Zealanders living in rural andprovincial areas (outside the threemain centres) were more likely todeclare that the police were visible intheir local community.migrate from an area of few availableweapons (living room), to an area withmany available weapons (kitchen).12. When a member of the public seesa blue light flashing and approaching athigh speed, he or she will always pull intothe lane the cop needs to use.13. If you were to drive your police car tothe geometric centre of the Gobi Desert,within five minutes some member ofthe public is sure to arrive and ask fordirections.14. The better you do your job, themore likely you are to be shot, injured,complained about, sued, investigated, orsubpoenaed on your day off.rather leave now with the bonusesthan stay and run the risk of losingthem.The armed forces are already short ofstaff and the Police Commissioner hasacknowledged that replacing the 1600police officers who have left has beendifficult.160

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005Fund the frontline:Auckland again in the spotlight as frontline shortages begin to biteBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsThe frontline policing shortagethroughout the country is no moreapparent than in Auckland City District.Police News has learned that a recentmorning shift saw just two ‘I’ (incident) carsand one ‘Q’ (inquiry) car on patrol (a totalof five staff, excluding road policing). Theafternoon shift was no different.This is less than the average daily ‘I’ carresponse available in Auckland city in 1974,when there were usually three ‘I’ cars onpatrol.Nationwide, the shortage is being stronglyfelt through a lack of investigativecapability (CIB). In Auckland city thereare 122 CIB positions – representing adetective to every 3,372 people. In 1976that ratio was one detective to every 1,283people (113 positions). Investigators havehuge caseloads, which impacts upontheir ability to adequately action files thathave been assigned. In April this year, anationwide audit showed that 2,043 filesremained unassigned.1300 unassigned filesIn the Counties-Manukau District, wherethere is a chronic and ongoing staffingshortage, there were 1300 unassignedfiles by July. Over 50 of those files relateto child abuse, including alleged childrape incidents.Police have launched a current ‘backlogoperation’ to work on these files and stafffrom local districts, Youth Aid, GeneralDuties, Emergency Response staff andCommunity Constables are workingalongside other staff in an attempt to clearthem. Nine staff have been secondedfrom outside the district. Police Newsunderstands this is the sixth occasionin the last three years where staff fromoutside the district have been called in tohelp due to insufficient resources.But police officers involved say that whilethey are “trying to plug holes in thedyke”, as one officer put it while “otherleaks are beginning to appear elsewhere”.He said that while those working hardto try and alleviate the pressures inCounties-Manukau were doing a goodjob, they still had over 1000 unassignedfiles to deal with and the situation wasonly a stop-gap measure. “By us beingaway from our normal positions it createsmore work pressure for our colleagueswho are trying to do our jobs as well astheir own and eventually that’s going tohave a domino effect,” the officer toldPolice News.“Robbing Peter to pay Paul”“This is robbing Peter to pay Paul stuff,”the officer added. “As quick as we canclear files in Counties-Manukau othersare being added here and in the areas wecame from,” the officer said.In a six-month period from Januaryuntil July this year, Counties-Manukaustaff had to deal with 150 incidents ofchild abuse (including sexual assaults),New appointments policy due for rollout on Sept 5By Leeann Peden, Association Industrial OfficerPolice have advised that the Board ofCommissioners (BOC) has signed off thenew appointments policy. The intendedrollout date is 5 September.The Association understands that followingthe rollout of the new appointments policy,for the period September to October,OoC will monitor all vacancies andappointments. From November 2005 toFebruary 2006, 25% of vacancy scheduleswill be monitored. This is to ensure theidentification of any problems and that thenew process is being followed correctly.This is an area that the Association willmonitor carefully.The Association is heartened that Policehave taken a number of our concernson board and as a result have made thefollowing changes to the final policydocument:Integrity checkingRather than adopting a broad-brushapproach, the policy has been amended torequire members to declare:• Criminal convictions (for internalapplicants this relates to anyconvictions since employment withinPolice);• Any current and substantiatedcomplaints or disciplinary action overthe last four years; and• Whether the member is the subject ofany current complaint or disciplinaryreview.Local/national advertisingThe policy has been amended to maintainthe status quo in respect of local advertising.Local advertising will remain applicable toA64 situations, transfers within district at amember’s existing band and where there isno shift in household.Definitions for local and national advertisinghave also been included.PanelsSelection panels are to be made up of noless than three members. The final policyalso includes a reference to the “desirability”of having a panel member from outside theimmediate work group or area.100 sexual assaults against adults, 100aggravated robberies, 90 sexual violenceincidents and three homicides.Wellington situationAccording to a Wellington Area staffingreport of 2 March this year there were243 sworn staff, 36 non-sworn staff. InJanuary 1997, a similar report, said therewere 302 sworn and 64 non-sworn staff.This is a 24% reduction in sworn staffand a 77% reduction in the non-sworncomplement. Overall, it represents areduction of 31%.The Wellington Area GDB ResponseGroup is down six from 1997 (19 in1997 to 13) while Community PolicingCentres have shed four staff (down from16 to 12). Road Policing has increasedfrom 11 staff in 1997 to 21.Unfortunately, with Police having toprioritise because of these shortages andhaving to fill gaps by juggling groupsatffing it is a story being repeatednationwideThe result of these shortages is beingreflected in crime trends. High volumecrimes, such as burglary and unlawfultaking of and from vehicles, require lessconcentrated dedication of resources tohave a high impact. But serious violentcrime, Class A drug crime (includingmethamphetamine) and robberies, whichsoak up significant resources to have asmall impact, are increasing.Adverse matters during checksBOC did not agree with the Associationrequest that any adverse matters raisedduring referee checking should be put tothe applicant for their comment and/orexplanation.The Association has major concerns withthis approach and have formally raisedthese with Police. The Association willmonitor this matter carefully.Appointment review draft policyPolice are still in the process of makingamendments to this policy.The main change will be that membersseeking a review of non-appointmentwill not get a copy of the recommendedapplicant’s curriculum vitae (CV).Police do, however, accept that themember must be given sufficientinformation on which to make a decisionas to whether to review or not. On thisbasis, it is likely members will be providedwith a copy of the panel’s recommendationand their own interview write-up.161

September 2005Police News The Voice of Police• Trainees on the parade ground at the Bamyan RTC.New Zealand police officers, Marty Edghill, who is the senior training advisor, and Wally Kopae,are on a nine-month secondment in Afghanistan to train local Afghani police officers, recentlymoved from Kabul to Bamyan, the site of the world famous Buddha statues, which were destroyedby the Taleban in 2001. This is a report received by Police News from Marty recently…The journey from Kabul to Bamyan,by military aircraft, was “extremelyinteresting”. “The last 20 minutes weflew at 200–300 feet, flat out, till thewheels hit the runway, apparentlynecessary to minimise the risk of beinghit by incoming small arms fire orsurface to air weapons,” Marty toldPolice News.Kabul is situated on a relatively flatbasin completely surrounded for manymiles by mountainous geography.The CTC, a compound of about 20permanent buildings, classrooms andadmin buildings, in Kabul is on themain road to Jalalabad and as suchhas extremely tight security. NepaleseGhurkas are employed to secure,control and patrol the compound,which ensures everyone can sleep safelyat night.The facility caters for about 600students at any one time. Coursesdelivered at the CTC range from basiccourses for both literate and illiterateentrants to the Afghanistan Police (AP),Transitional Integration for existingmembers of the AP, Border Patrol andHighway Patrol through to Trainingthe Trainer courses for indigenous APmembers who deliver all training at theCTC and the seven Regional TrainingCentres (RTC’s) around the country.Chaotic KabulPart of our induction at the CTCincluded a trip into Kabul itself.Sadly, Kabul is a dirty, messy, smelly,cluttered, shambolic, smoky, chaotic,and unkempt city. Definitely not adestination you would put on your listof top holiday spots. We kept our stayas brief as possible.Recently we travelled to Bamyan fromKabul by way of a locally sourced fixedwing cargo plane. This was anotherinteresting experience, flying within anaircraft that did not appear fit to passa NZ motor vehicle WOF check. Thepilots seemed to be hung over from thenight before. Somehow we managed toget to our destination unscathed.Flying into Bamyan is like flyingthrough a time warp into biblicaltimes. People are living in caves, muddwellings or in simple holes dug in theground. The scenery is similar to theMacKenzie high country in the SouthIsland. There is very little vegetationand it is completely surrounded bytowering mountains.We live at 8,500 feet elevation and theair is very thin. Overlooking Bamyantownship are the remnants of two giantBuddha statues built 1800 years ago, butdestroyed by the Taleban in 2001, fortheir representation of un-Islamic beliefs.These statues were carved into the cliffsand stood about 50 and 40 metresrespectively, however, all that remainsnow are the outlines of where they oncestood and large piles of rubble. Attemptsare being made to reconstruct the statueswith the assistance of internationalexperts and local Afghan workers.Bamyan RTCWally and I are now living within theNew Zealand Provincial ReconstructionTeam in Bamyan and working at theBamyan RTC. The Bamyan RTC consistsof one permanent classroom that hasa very small office at one end. Theoffice space currently caters for theAfghanistan Police staff (Commander,2IC and four instructors) plus theinternational staff (two US and two NZpersonnel and two language assistants).There is a training annex, of sorts,which is a tent that is being used as asecond classroom. This tent is about162

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 20051 kilometre from the classroom in themiddle of a field surrounded by derelicttanks and military hardware. The lack ofventilation and heat in the tent make fora somewhat uncomfortable and testingteaching environment.But things are looking up. Plans arewell under way for the construction ofa new, permanent and larger facility,similar to other RTC’s that have beenbuilt around the country. The newBamyan RTC will have a studentcapability similar to the CTC in Kabuli.e. about 600 at a time. Constructionis planned to commence shortly and itshould be fully functional by December.I recently got to take my first breaksince being deployed here. Gettingleave involves considerable effort,negotiation and co-ordination. A seriesof travel legs are involved in the processof taking leave out of mission. Traveloptions out of Bamyan consist of civilian,commercial, military, coalition, UN, orAfghan National Police (ANP) aircraft orotherwise you can go by road.A short time before I went on leave wegraduated 40 students from the BamyanRTC. This class was the illiterate basiccourse we had been teaching at a tentin a field opposite the local Policestation. While I was on leave, a further40 students from a literate basic coursealso graduated. This class was beingdelivered at our hard-site adjacent tothe NZ PRT. I have a ‘hot classroompolicy’ i.e. the classroom is neverempty and at present we have anotherilliterate basic course with 42 studentsat the hard-site. For many reasons,including security and suitability, unlessabsolutely necessary, we are not usingthe tent again as a training venue.This means that until our permanentBamyan RTC is built we are progressingwith just the one class at a time.All in a day’s workOur daily work involves attendance inthe classroom in order to manage andmentor the indigenous ANP trainers, aswell as one on one coaching with ANPtrainers not involved in the classroom.I have recently instigated professionaldevelopment training for our ANPtrainers. This training takes the formof basic English lessons delivered toANP trainers not involved in classroominstruction. We are getting our mostcapable language assistant to deliver thetraining. Should the exercise work, I willexpand the training as it adds value totheir skills and improves communicationwith us. I have also modified anInstructor Assessment System to includemore frequent monitoring of instructionby our ANP trainers in order to identifyareas of deficiency and corrective orremedial action needed to improve theirperformance.Recently we saw the single most seriousloss of life of coalition personnelin Afghanistan since hostilitiescommenced with Operation EnduringFreedom. This involved the shootingdown of a Chinook helicopter duringaction in eastern Afghanistan. Thisevent, coupled with media reportsspeculating on the escalation of violencein Afghanistan leading up to the generalelection in September, is disconcerting.That said, the drama elsewherein Afghanistan underlines howfortunate we are in Bamyan. Theunderlying reasons for anger andaggression in other provinces aremuch less significant in Bamyan.In the face of pressing and genuineissues, local folk in Bamyan acceptthat the best way forward is throughorderly representation to the relevantauthorities. Militant elements thatflourish within other provinces ofAfghanistan are virtually non-existent inBamyan.Understandably, family, friends and staffcolleagues in NZ might be concerned• Traffic in the city of Kabul.for our welfare as they watch the newsreports from Afghanistan. The easiestway for me to balance the sometimessensationalist nature of the media is toassure all that it is “business as usual’for us in Bamyan. We have the trustand confidence of all our key partnersand most importantly the people ofBamyan.An example of the attitude of Bamyanlocals is a comment that was made tome recently when I met the newlyappointedDeputy Governor of Bamyan.During the meeting, I gave him a NZPolice Association pen as a greeting gift.In reply, he said: “The gift of a pen is anextremely important symbol and willconstantly remind me that right now,in Afghanistan, the pen will always ruleover the gun”.Editor’s note: Afghan President HamidKarzai recently attended a graduationceremony at the Bamyan Regional PoliceTraining Centre (BRPTC). The 41 studentsat the graduation had completed a fiveweekBasic Police Officer Course – thesecond delivered so far by the BRPTC.• Bamyan township with the remnants of one buddha and cave dwellings in thebackground.163

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceTaser stun guns set for operational trialBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsNew Zealand Police are in the processof looking at a 12-month operationaltrial of Taser stun guns. The trial stillrequires Cabinet approval.The Police Association has given tacitapproval to the use of Taser stun guns.Police Association President, GregO’Connor said: “We welcome anyinitiative that will enhance the safetyand effectiveness of police (and alsobenefit the offenders) and we supportthe careful manner in which Policeare approaching the issue by way of athorough operational trial.”Police say that the guns, which are usedin the USA, UK and Canada could helpprevent injuries to police officers inincidents where they encounter peoplesuch as violent methamphetamineusers, some of whom have beenvirtually oblivious to the effects ofpepper spray.The guns are widely used in the LAPD(Los Angeles Police Department), thelargest police department in the USA.Safety issuesAmnesty International has beenoutspoken against the stun guns,which the organisation says has beenresponsible for the deaths of 130 peopleworldwide.Overseas police departments have,however, defended the use of thedevices saying that they have preventedthe use of lethal force in many instancesand saved officers and offenders’ lives.They counter critics by saying thatin almost all cases where people diedafter being hit by the stun gun thattheir deaths could be attributable topre-existing medical conditions or theinfluence of hard drugs.Jan Berry, Chairperson of the 140,000strong Police Federation of Englandand Wales told Police News duringher recent visit to New Zealand, thatshe was supportive of the use of stunguns by police officers. London policeofficers used a stun gun to subdue oneof the suspects in the botched Londonbombings recently.Berry said that the guns did have theirlimitations though, especially in wetweather. Only officers with firearmstraining are issued with the gunsin the UK. Unlike New Zealand, allUK officers do not undergo firearmstraining.Two modelsThe Taser comes in two models – theM26 and the more advanced X26.Upon firing, compressed nitrogenprojects two probes 15 or 21 feet(depending on the cartridge) at a speedof 180 feet per second. The probesare connected by thin insulated wireback to the Taser gun. An electricalsignal transmits throughout the regionwhere the probes make contact withButterworth’s book on policing between1945-92 should have plenty for everyoneProfessional historian Susan Butterworthhas just completed the fifth volume ofthe official history of policing in NewZealand, covering the years between 1945and 1992, the time of the Police/TSSintegration.The book, at 348 pages, deals with thehuge changes in policing during this47-year period. “More than Law andOrder” reflects the scale of these changes.Associate Professor Richard Hill ofVictoria University and Graeme Dunstallof the University of Canterbury wrote thefirst four volumes of the series.Susan is the wife of former PoliceAssociation Executive Officer, GrahamButterworth, who with Rob Moodie gavethe Police Association such a high profilebetween the mid-1970s and the mid-1980s.New Zealand Police History LiaisonOfficer, retired Chief Inspector SherwoodYoung, has co-ordinated the researchand production of all five volumes inconjunction with the History Group ofthe Ministry for Culture and Heritage.On behalf of Police News, Mr Younginterviewed Susan about her book:Who did you write this book for? I wasvery aware of writing for the peoplewho had served in the Police during thistime. Many had spent 30 to 40 years inthe Police at a time when work occupiedmost of their waking hours and affectedtheir families much more than the averageoccupation did. Former cadets had joinedthe Police at the age of 17 and manyworked through to retirement age, andknew no other life. Their contribution tothe Police was huge.What new information did youunearth? It has been possible to bringto light much more information aboutthe circumstances of CommissionerCompton’s early departure - althoughsome of the mystery still remains. I thinkpeople who lived through the 1950’s willfind that section very interesting.What major changes affected thePolice? There were many more womenby 1992, as well as lots more non-swornstaff. The number of Maori and PacificIsland members also increased, reflectingimmigration from the Pacific andurbanisation of the Maori population. ThePhoto courtesy of Taser Internationalthe body or clothing and the subject isincapacitated by a 50,000 volt charge,which lasts for five seconds before thegun automatically shuts down. Theresult is an instant loss of the attacker’sneuromuscular control and any abilityto perform co-ordinated action.A trial by UK police officers on bothmodels resulted in 79% favouring theX26 model. This is the model thatNew Zealand Police are to use in theoperational trial, if Cabinet approval isforthcoming.Editor’s note: A recent survey on the Stuff.co.nzsite indicated that 80% of those polled favouredNZ police being able to use stun guns.implementation of a much more meritbasedpromotion system brought its ownchanges, as did the change from beingpromoted to a rank with no particularvacancy attached. This meant that thosebeing promoted had more influence overwhere they were transferring to and inturn this was a major bonus for families.How did the Police structure changeduring these years? In 1945 therewere 15 Police Districts with a largenumber of rural and suburban stations.By 1992, after the national survey andexternal reviews, there were six regionsand 29 districts, with the emphasis oncommunity orientated policing andcommunity policing centres. That haschanged again since 1992 of course,with the regions being abolished andreplaced with only 12 much largerdistricts. From the 1980’s the Policewere continually being reviewed andit was a destabilising time for thePolice generally, following on from theupheaval of the 1981 South Africanrugby tour and its consequencesamongst middle New Zealand.The book “More than Law andOrder” will be available fromSeptember, and an order form isincluded in this issue of Police News.164

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005Gunpoint arrests after pursuit in AucklandPhoto courtesy of Nicola McNabbA couple of months ago it was a dramatic pursuit duringa hostage drama along Auckland’s motorways and lastmonth this was the scene after raids on six centralAuckland houses in which police searched for a groupbelieved to be responsible for a string of armed robberies.The photo, captured by a passing motorist Nicola McNabb,shows an Auckland police officer making a gunpoint arrestof two suspects after they fled the scene of the raids in avehicle and sped through suburban streets at speeds of upto 120 kmh.The pair ran through red lights, tried to ram patrol carsand crashed into a truck during the course of the pursuit.Their vehicle eventually stopped as a result of mechanicalproblems near Western Springs and armed police officerssurrounded it and arrested the occupants. The driver isfacing charges of dealing and supplying a class A drug.• Police Association President, Greg O’Connor, presents Jan Berry, Chairperson of the140,000-strong Police Federation of England and Wales, with a Maori carving at theconclusion of her recent visit to New Zealand.Malaysian Policeaccused of notfollowing ordersSeremban, Malaysia - Non-complianceand lack of understanding of theInspector-General of Police StandingOrders (IGPSO) are the root causes to“weaknesses” in the Malaysian PoliceForce, according to a report from UtusanMalaysia Online.The news service, quoted DeputyChairman of the Royal Commission onthe Royal Malaysia Police, Tun HanifOmar, as saying: “Judging from the publiccomplaints received by the Commissionduring its public hearings, it was evidentthat police officers and policemen did nottake the IGPSO seriously.”Monitoring system proposed“We have proposed a monitoring systemto supervise the duties being carriedout by police officers and lower-rungpolicemen,” he told a media conference.The Commission has thrown up someinteresting evidence. One police officerresigned during the hearings, allegingthat he was doing so because he wasunder pressure from a superior whooften assigned him work, which he saidincluded doing shopping for senior officers.The Commission has also commented oninadequate police disciplinary procedures.Malaysian police officers, who aredismissed, have no right of appeal withinthe disciplinary system. If they wish toappeal, they have to take their case tocourt and the Commission said that thehigh costs involved often precluded themfrom doing so.165

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceAssociation District and Area committee representativesBelow is a list of reps as reported to the Association after recent elections:REGION 1 (NORTHLAND, NORTH SHORE/WAITAKERE)DIRECTOR: STEVE HAWKINSNorthlandConf Del & SecretaryNgaire McLachlanChairpersonShane MawstonVice-ChairpersonSteve ChamberlainVice-ChairpersonJanette JohnsNorth ShoreConf Del & SecretaryTony LindsayChairpersonAnthony (Jug) PriceWaitakere (Henderson)Conf Del & Vice-Chairperson Derek LawfordSecretarySusan NixonChairpersonJoe SavageVice-ChairpersonJared CuffREGION 2 (AUCKLAND CITY, COUNTIES MANUKAU) DIRECTOR:MARK LEYSAuckland CityConf Del & Chairperson Michael CornellConf Del & SecretaryTony MillerChairpersonMichael CornellVice-ChairpersonPhil DeanCounties-ManukauConference DelegatesSpencer MatthewsGareth HartleySecretaryGareth HartleyChairpersonSpencer MatthewsREGION 3 (WAIKATO, BAY OF PLENTY) DIRECTOR: MEL RIDLEYWaikato – Tie LineConference DelegateStuart InnesConference DelegateWayne AberhartSecretaryLaurie RoycroftChairpersonJock SimpsonRotoruaConference DelegateScott ThompsonSecretaryChristine LuntChairpersonScott ThompsonTauranga/Western BayConference DelegateNga UtangaSecretaryEthne HeaverChairpersonBarry WoonVice-ChairpersonPeter DaveyTokoroa / TaupoConf Del & SecretaryAlan HumphriesChairpersonRick RudolphEastern Bay of PlantyChairpersonDave PettingerSecretaryYvonne ParkerREGION 4 (EASTERN, CENTRAL) DIRECTOR: CHRIS CAHILLGisborneConference DelegateTyrone ChaffeySecretaryLincoln SycamoreChairpersonCaroline FoxVice-ChairpersonTheo AkroydNapierConference DelegateDan FoleySecretaryChristine StangerChairpersonFred van DuurenVice-ChairpersonMark MoorehouseHastingsConf Del & SecretaryGary McFadyenChairpersonGreg BrownVice-ChairpersonLuke ShadboltTaranakiConf Del & SecretaryPhil RoweChairpersonDave MacKenzieSouth TaranakiSecretaryAndrea (Red) BurlingChairpersonPaul DavisonWanganuiConference DelegateKevin SmithSecretaryGail CatoChairpersonJohn DaleVice-ChairpersonKevin SmithPalmerston NorthConference DelegateLani TakitimuSecretaryKeryn RobertsChairpersonGraeme NewberryHorowhenua Sub AreaSecretaryJudy JenningsChairpersonMartin BullRuapehu Sub AreaSecretaryTyra Shaw(nee Jacobsen)ChairpersonLes ClarkeREGION 5 (WELLINGTON, OOC, RNZPC) DIRECTOR: STUARTMILLSKapiti ManaConference DelegateCampbell TaylorSecretaryMike CraigChairpersonRob GregoryHutt - Tie LineConference DelegateTusha PennySecretaryAllister RoseChairpersonRodger HoughVice-ChairpersonGeoff HancockWellingtonConf Del & Chairperson Ron LekSecretaryCatherine O’DonnellVice-ChairpersonChris MoorePolice CollegeConference DelegatePatrick BurrellSecretaryAndrew HeffeyChairpersonHorst MaczugaOffice of The CommissionerConference DelegateMarc ClausenSecretaryNaomi GrayChairpersonMarc ClausenDeputy ChairpersonPauline ButcherWairarapa Sub AreaSecretaryAidan EllimsChairpersonMike McRandleREGION 6 (TASMAN, CANTERBURY) DIRECTOR: CRAIG PRIORNelsonDelegate/SecretaryJohn PriceChairpersonBrian WoodVice-ChairpersonMike ParfittChristchurch CityDelegate / SecretaryPeter SummerfieldChairpersonPeter CooperConf Del & Chairperson Grant RussellSecretaryFay SimpsonAshburton contactJim SoleSouth CanterburyConf Del & Chairperson Graham HallSecretaryPaul HamptonChairpersonMark OffenWest CoastConf Del & Chairperson Craig TickelpennySecretaryDiane GloverVice ChairpersonSean JuddBlenheimSecretaryCiaran SloanChairpersonMaurice HorneREGION 7 (SOUTHERN) DIRECTOR: DAVE STEELDunedinConference DelegateKelvin LloydSecretaryGeoff FreemanChairpersonBrett RobertsOtagoConf Del & SecretaryBruce DowChairpersonBarry HansenVice-ChairpersonDerek BeveridgeSouthlandConf Del & Chairperson Grant GerkenSecretaryTracey MacLennanVice-ChairpersonAndrew Fraser166

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005This column is written by a frontline police officer. It does notrepresent the views or policies of the Police Association.View From The BottomBy Constable Iam KeenThe young and the restlessWell that’s the sort of soap opera behaviourthat’s been happening north of theBombay’s recently with the ball beingdropped by those who should know better!I mean it just ain’t polite to go into aCommander’s district and start liaising withthe ethnic community without telling himand ignoring the fact that great relationshave already been forged with the saidcommunity. It’d brass me off hearing itthrough the media. I thought the eighthfloor would know better and leave theactual policing to those who do it best and live within the area.Mind you, hearing it first through the media isn’t exactly a newphenomenon these days!A bunch of flowersI’ve given me favourite Red and Black lady a few brickbats in the past,so here’s a bouquet for the efforts in looking after our staff duringoperation ‘Oversight’. Giving your troops certainty in trying timesand standing up to the media while others fade into the shadows,sure shows me that our ‘top lady’ has the mettle to see this districtperforming the same as its mighty rugger team. Well done!Faster than a speeding bulletAlso well done to the lads who thought they were doing the rightthing and ended up on the wrong side of the law for their efforts inmaking a ride smoother than a Mr Whippy Snow-Freeze. They havedisplayed a thoroughly professional image throughout the matterand for me it should never have got this far and should have beenright down there with Paintergate!Do walls really have ears?Now me bully just has to be wrong on this one. Surely, it can’t betrue? I mean to say; we’re just not that paranoid or insecure – wellnot down here at the coalface at least. I understand that there havebeen approaches to our up and coming finest, who are learning thetrade at ‘Michael Campbell College’, by Professional Standards staffto be on high alert for the devil incarnate as apparently that little reddevil is everywhere!Our culture is built on professionalism, integrity and trust. It alwayshas been and this will continue as long as we nurture the manypositives that have created the ‘police culture’. For the record, cultureis mostly a good thing and is the main reason behind why we arethe best in the world at what we do. The odd bad apple will notspoil the barrel and we have good systems to deal with those wholet us down. So don’t go believing we are weak when everything weachieve says quite the opposite! We are an awesome team (even DanCarter would struggle to make our side).Change in the seasonsNow this might upset some of you lot but as the rugger season isgetting so long anyway, I was thinking that maybe we just go theentire 12 months and then start the season again. Mind you, we Redand Blacks might have to build a few more silverware cabinets if thatwas the case.The AB’s have been fantastic this year and it’ll be great watchingthem in the summer dishing it out to those northern hemisphere lotin their own backyard. Sky was suchan appropriate name, considering itreally is Heaven’s backyard!See ya!Russian police wouldn’twin any popularity prizesThe Australian newspaper have reported that human rightsadvocates in Russia have launched a new non-governmentalorganisation to campaign against police abuse, which affects aquarter of all inhabitants of large cities, according to a new poll.Rights bodies Memorial and Moscow Helsinki Group and OpenRussia, a philanthropic body financed by jailed oil magnateMikhail Khodorkovsky, have founded the organisation, PublicVerdict.Worrying pollTwenty-six per cent of Russians have been the victim of policeabuse, according to a poll of just over 2000 residents of 12 cities.Eight out of ten Russians are convinced that police in their cityare corrupt and 40 per cent say police have links to criminals, thesurvey showed.There are widespread reports in Russia of extortion by badly paidpolice officers, beatings and deaths in police custody and reportsof torture to extract confessions.HOLIDAY HOME AVAILABILITY– for bookings see: www.policeassn.org.nzSeptember October NovemberPAIHIA 7-9, 14, 15, 18-19, 21 9-12, 11-13 3, 6-8, 10-11, 17, 20, 24, 27-30STANMORE BAY 4-9, 10-15, 18-22, 28-29 3-7, 9-20, 16-21, 23-27, 30-31 1-5, 8-30AUCKLAND 7, 8, 15, 22 17, 31 2-3, 9-12, 13, 20-21, 24-27WHANGAMATA 4-8, 11-13, 18-23 9, 13, 20, 24-27, 25-31 1-5, 7-17, 20-24, 27-30MT MAUNGANUI 5-8, 11, 13-15, 18-22, 22-23 9-14, 16, 17-18, 18-19, 24-27, 30-31 1-4, 6-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-30OHOPE 4 9-13, 16-22, 25-27, 30-31 1-8, 11-30ROTORUA 4-8, 5-9, 11, 13-15, 18-19, 19-21 2, 3-4, 9-13, 16-17, 17-20, 24-27, 31 1-3, 6-11, 13-20, 20-21, 23-24, 26-30TAUPO 4-7, 14-15, 18-22 9-11, 10-13, 17, 25, 27, 30-31 2-3, 8-9, 16-17, 20-22, 27-30TURANGI 11 3-6, 9-11, 10-13, 16-17, 20, 24-30 13-24, 27-30NAPIER 8, 12, 13-15, 19-22, 25 2, 9, 18-20, 24, 26, 30-31 1-2, 7-9, 14-17, 21-24, 27-30PARAPARAUMU 5-7, 11-15, 29 4-5, 9-13, 16-21, 23, 27, 31 15, 21-25, 27-30GREYTOWN 6-8, 11-13, 15, 18-21 12-13, 16-20, 24-26, 31 1-3, 6-10, 24, 27-30WELLINGTON 9, 11, 13, 20-21 9, 27, 30-31 1-3, 8, 11, 13, 21-23, 28NELSON 4, 7-8, 11-14, 18-21, 23, 27-29 9-13, 17, 25 1-2, 14-15, 16-17, 22-24, 26-30HANMER SPRINGS 11, 15, 20, No dates available 22-24CHRISTCHURCH No dates available 24 13, 18, 21, 23, 27-30TEKAPO 11-14, 14-16, 18, 29 5, 9-11, 12-13, 16, 18-20, 26-27, 30 2-4, 7-8, 13-18, 20-22, 22-24, 27-30WANAKA 12-13, 21-22, 25-30 1-5, 9, 11-13, 24-25, 25-27, 31 5-7, 9, 13-16, 20-22, 27-30CROMWELL 4-9, 16, 19-26 12-13, 16-20, 23-26 8-9, 13-17, 28QUEENSTOWN No dates available No dates available 10-11TE ANAU 3-9, 11-12, 13-14, 14-15, 18-22 5-20, 23-26, 27, 29-31 1-2, 4, 5-10, 12, 16-22, 27-30DUNEDIN 4-6, 7-10, 13-15, 18-22 7-11, 9-13, 16, 17-20, 24-26 1-3, 6-9, 13-17, 24-26, 29-30167

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceThe recruiting debate:Is the policing career losing its appeal?By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsWhile frontline resources are stretchedaround the country, there is growingconcern among some recruitment officersthat there aren’t enough would-be recruitsto fill the gaps in New Zealand’s frontlinepolicing capability.The problem is not particularly new buthas become more prevalent over recentyears. Problems started to surface aroundmid to late 2003.Then, the training intake, which came viathe Manukau Institute of Technology, hadan initial influx of 88 would-be recruits.Thirty-one were deemed unsuitable and‘missed the cut’, leaving 57 to go on tothe College as recruits. Of these, 12 havesince left. The remaining 45 are currentlystill in the job. This means that in twoyears there was a 21% attrition rate fromthis batch, which went into Wings 214and 215.Attrition from the three wings thatgraduated at the same time or prior toWings 214 and 215, currently averages5.6% (Wings 210, 211 and 213).Attrition in the force usually runs ataround 4% but recent figures confirm ithas risen slightly to 4.4%.UK recruitmentOf the 75 UK recruits (Wing 212), whichwere brought out to relieve staffingproblems in Auckland two years ago,61 remain in the job (three of whom arecurrrently on leave without pay). This is a19% attrition rate.Of those remaining, around 14 haveachieved NCO rank.Operating at full capacity, the PoliceCollege could put through 800 recruitsper annum. However, wings of varyingsize can cause logistical problems.The most recent intake was of 40 insteadof the expected 80 recruits, due torecruiting shortages. Police have decidedto target the 18-20-year-old age group aspart of a new recruiting strategy.The obvious pitfall in recruitingstraight out of school is that manyyoung adults tend to lack the maturityand commonsense to deal withconfrontational situations such asdomestic violence incidents or thesensitivity required in telling a relativethat their loved one is dead.Police are so concerned about theapparent fall-off in recruit numbers thatthey are looking at further recruitingdrives in the United Kingdom, similar tothe one which took place in 2002.Police Association President, GregO’Connor, said the Association wouldbe “keen to work with Police to makebecoming a police officer a more attractivecareer choice”. He said that the labourmarket was “very competitive” at themoment and this had contributed torecruitment problems. “We’ve seen thiscycle before, when numbers get down itbecomes a vicious cycle and is harder toget people in,” he added.Maintenance of standardsMr O’Connor said the Associationwould be “very concerned” if there wasany suggestion that standards wouldbe lowered in order to boost recruitnumbers.This is one of the major concernsexpressed by current police staff to theAssociation.Police officers spoken to by Police Newsrecently said that there needs to be alonger term strategy regarding recruiting.“If we don’t recruit the right people nowthen we are going to have big problemswhen we get another ten years down thetrack,” one officer said in reflecting whatseems to be a common viewpoint.They say that the top graduates aremaking top notch officers but the lowerperforming recruits generally performthat way on the job too.Some officers are also expressing concernto the Association that the Governmentis funding courses designed to set peopleup for a police career but which are ofdubious value. The thinking here is thatPolice shouldn’t have to ‘bridge the gap’before would-be recruits enter the PoliceCollege. Many officers feel that in order• Recruits perform a haka at their graduation parade. How many more will be signing up for a police career in a tight job market?Photo courtesy of the Dominion Post168

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005to maintain standards, recruits should beof sufficient standard without having toattend Government-funded pre-Collegepolicing courses.Police Minister denies problemPolice Minister, George Hawkins, hasdenied there are recruiting and retentionproblems. Even though the Police hadoriginally raised the issue it didn’t stop MrHawkins from accusing the Associationof “inventing a recruiting crisis”. Hesaid he “had assurances from the Policeadministration that there are more than200 recruits going through the systemright now”. Rather incredibly, he accusedthe Association of trying to create publicpressure ahead of next year’s police payround.Mr O’Connor said denying there is aproblem had led to methamphetamine,organised crime and the crisis in theCommunications Centres becomingendemic. “You ignore these things at yourperil,” he said.The facts belie Minister Hawkins’assurances.For instance, there was a meeting called atthe Office of the Commissioner recentlyto discuss a fall-off in police recruiting.The meeting was called after recruitmentofficers from the Central Districts,Auckland and the Waikato reported adrop in the number of people wanting tojoin the Police.Police figures indicate the problem isconcentrated from Waikato through toNorthland. This encompasses Waikato,North Shore/Waitakere, Auckland,Counties-Manukau and Northland.The West Coast of the South Island is alsosignificant problems attracting staff.In January there were 94 people over thefive northern districts who were deemedas “commenced in the recruiting process”.But by July this number had fallen to 60.In January there were 22 people listed as“on the waiting list and available to start”while by July there weren’t any.Police will be hoping that the figures are amonthly abberation but recruiting officersaren’t so sure.Recruitment officers have told theAssociation that they see a number offactors contributing to the problem.Among them were negative mediapublicity, particularly around historicsexual allegation charges against policeofficers, the Communications Centresdebacle, and pay rates, which were nowviewed as not as attractive given the levelof risk to life and limb involved.Another issue for would-be recruits intheir thirties, many of whom have youngfamilies, is that spending six months awayfrom home at the Police College is not aviable option. The bulk of graduates headfor Auckland and that isn’t an attractiveoption. “Rents are high and the prospectsof actually owning a house are minimal,”one officer involved in the recruitingprocess told Police News.Tight job marketIn a tight job market, with lowunemployment, policing is increasinglyin danger of becoming less attractive.Recruitment officers say that many youngpeople consider the job too dangerous whileothers say that the criteria for entry and thetraining process itself are too strict.NZ Police, for its part, says that a policecareer “remains a very attractive careeroption to those seeking challenges andfulfillment”. Police General ManagerHuman Resources, Wayne Annan, saidthat Police would recruit 600 officersthis year. He said this was “in line withthe numbers recruited in each of the lastthree years”.Mr Annan said that Police were stillgetting a high calibre of recruit despitea tight labour market and was recentlyquoted in the media as saying that publiccomments by recruitment officers were“unfortunate”.RethinkHe said the tightened labour market hadnecessitated Police rethinking the timingVictorian Ombudsman gets extra powersThe Victorian Government has agreed to expand the Ombudsman’s powers to allowfor phone tapping and to run undercover operations as part of fresh investigations intopolice corruption.The new powers have been delegated to Special Commissioner Tony Fitzgerald, QC,who has been appointed to investigate the leaking of a confidential police report on acorruption informer.The report was written by a Drug Squad detective who is facing serious criminal charges.Big funding boostThe Ombudsman will also receive a huge boost in funding – from $4.5 million to$5 million annually - about the same level as provided for the NSW Police IntegrityCommission.The Ombudsman, George Brouwer requested extra powers to assist him to runinvestigations independently of the Police.Mr Brouwer plans to employ 100 investigators and set up his own intelligence system.Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, recently promised “unlimited resources” to the Ombudsman.of recruitment campaigns in order toattract university graduates and schoolleavers. He said this is why the decisionhad been made to plan two recruit wingsof 100 each for the January/Februaryperiod in 2006.Mr Annan gave assurances that NZPolice would not be lowering standardsjust to make up the numbers and said“encouragement will continue to be givento those people from overseas policingagencies to join New Zealand Police”.A significant factor in the equationis a focus on retention as much asrecruitment because the two go hand inhand. It is the nett gain, which is goingto assist in building policing capacity,especially with the growing recognitionamongst politicians of the need to fundthe frontline in order to meet the safetyexpectations of the public.Heavenly hookersTwo prostitutes were riding around townwith a sign on top of their car, whichread: “Two prostitutes - $50.” A policeofficer, seeing the sign, stopped them andtold them they’d either have to removethe sign or go to jail.Just as the officer was interviewing thetwo hookers, another car passed witha sign saying: “Jesus saves”. One of thewomen then asked the cop: “How comeyou don’t stop them?” “Well, that’s a littledifferent,” the cop replied. “Their signpertains to religion.”So the two ladies of the night frowned asthey took their sign down and drove off.The following day, the cop was on patrolagain when he noticed the two ladiesdriving around with a large sign on theircar again.Figuring he had an easy arrest, he beganto catch up with them when he noticedthe new sign which now read: “Twoangels, seeking Peter - $50.”- Courtesy of RAS Communications.Montana state troopersrequired to make onetraffic stop per hourA new policy that requires state troopersin Montana to make at least one trafficstop each hour does not violate the state’santi-quota law, according to the Chief ofPolice.Because the policy does not require thatstopped drivers be ticketed, it falls inline with the recently passed law, whichbars agencies from imposing minimumnumbers of arrests or citations for anofficer.The new policy is intended to helpcrack down on drunken driving. A2003 National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration report indicated Montanahad the highest number of alcohol-relateddeaths per miles travelled.169

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceWing patron says it’s time to resurrectlaw and order as a government priorityBy Steve Plowman, Editor, Police NewsAt the recent graduation of Wing 224, He said that these leaders knew thatwing patron, Trevor Grice, co- author you couldn’t have education andof the “Great Brain Drain” and founder/ health etc until you had law and order.director of the Life Education Trust, “Unfortunately, over about the last 100delivered a speech which took recruits years or so, law and order has slippedfrom the history of early policing down to about number eleven on thethrough to the formation of the Police priority list and it’s always been theCollege in 1886 and back again to the domain of a junior Minister,” Mr Gricechallenges of modern day policing. said.Along the way, he told of early NewZealand being a virtual “wild west”at the time of the gold rushes andwhaling days and how it took theinfluence of British Governmentfundedmercenaries and theirparamilitary presence to arrest thelawlessness.“They meted out justice in a roughfashion. They arrested offenders one day,tried them the next and executed themthe day after that,” Mr Grice said.Priorities“Right from the time of Richard JohnSeddon through the leadership ofJoseph Ward and Prime Ministers thatfollowed them, the first thing on theBudget table was law and order,” MrGrice told the recruits.Mr Grice then made reference to thetreatment of police officers, teachers andnurses by government, saying that a lotof these professionals were “taking offoverseas” as a result. “Yet 119 MPs wentbehind closed doors to sort out their ownpay and perks, to the astonishment of theCommissioner of Inland Revenue and theAuditor-General, who advised them notto do this,” Mr Grice added.Social policies“We have brought in social policieswithout considering the peripheraleffects on the Police. For instance, wehave lowered the drinking age and weknow that policing work has almostdoubled on the weekend as a result of13 and 14-year-olds binge drinking,”Mr Grice said.Recruit numbers down across the USAPolice agencies from around the UnitedStates are seeing a decline in potentialrecruits and nobody knows why,leaving some law enforcement officialsscratching their heads about what todo, according to Fosters online andPoliceone.com news agencies.Despite a sluggish economy and limitedjob growth nationwide - usually twofactors that contribute to a spike ininterest – applications for police jobshave declined significantly in recentyears.The one exception might be the DoverPolice Department, which started a newinitiative a year ago, which includedInternet advertising, stronger collegeand university recruiting and otherinnovations. Dover police officers startat $US36,786 per year ($NZ53,194),and more if the candidate has priorexperience.Creative recruitmentThe downtrend in attracting suitablerecruits in New England has severalother Police Departments worriedthough. Some have tried more creativeforms of recruitment - even placinga “bounty” on the head of each newrecruit brought in by an existing officer.In America’s west, some departmentshave taken to paying a stipend for eachtrooper recruited. Arizona has a similarscheme while Washington’s HighwayPatrol has moved its entire hiringprocess to Japan.Police Departments across the countryexpected an influx of recruits afterthe 9/11 terrorist attacks but insteadinterest in a police career has seeminglywaned. Sergeant Steve Ranfos of theManchester Police Department toldFosters: “A couple years ago we weregetting 600 [applicants]. The lasttime they advertised the number haddropped to 80. Of those 80, 60 showedup to take the physical fitness test,but only 20 passed this first round oftesting.”In Ohio, there are about the samenumber of state troopers today - 1,500- as there were in the mid-1970s. InBoston, the number of police officershas dropped from 1,800 in the late1990s to fewer than 1,400 today.DeclineConnecticut is also seeing the samedramatic decline in applications. “Weused to get exams of 6,000,” saidTrooper Wendy Delehanty. The last statetest drew fewer than 3,000 people.Mr Grice also cited the legalisationof prostitution as adding to policingproblems. He said that some 13 and14-year-old binge-drinking girls were“easy prey” for gangs to recruit intoprostitution. “Most of these brothels arehavens for drugs because the girls needthe drugs to face the profession andthis just proliferates that whole cycle,”he added.Mr Grice said that the Privacy Acteffectively tied the hands of Police andChild Youth and Family (CYF). “I knowof five babies who would be alive todayif CYF didn’t have this choker of thePrivacy Act around their neck where theycouldn’t call the Police,” he said.Mr Grice said that the ratio ofpolice officers to population in NewZealand needed to be addressed bygovernment. “Government needsto resurrect law and order as its toppriority and it needs to do that byputting another 2500 police officersout there,” he said. “The gangs areexploiting the fact that there aren’tenough police on our streets,” headded.In North Berwick, things got so badthat Police Chief Randy Jones needed tobe put into the patrol rotation.Cleveland laid off 250 police officerslast year in an effort to close the city’s$60 million budget deficit while in NewYork City officers have been leaving ata rate of 1000 per year for the last threeyears. New York has 23,000 policeofficers.Staffing problems are being felt coastto coast, according to a recent reportfrom Policeone.com. Minneapolis cut 38positions from its police force last yearwhile Oregon State Police laid off 21%of its 600-strong force.Layoffs and attrition biteIn many cities, police chiefs say, layoffs,attrition and a lack of recruits areleading to dangerously low staffinglevels that could leave emergencyworkers unprepared and citizensunprotected during future terroristattacks. The call-up of reservists andNational Guard members for the warsin Iraq and Afghanistan also is taxingpolice and fire departments. SinceSept. 11, 2001, the National Guard hascalled up 4,153 police officers and 451firefighters.170

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005Stop press:Motorcade officers ‘can do’ attitude landsthem on the wrong side of the lawBy Greg O’Connor, Police Association PresidentIt was a day where no one eitherwanted to be there or should have beenthere.Five constables and a public servicedriver standing in the dock at TimaruCourt awaiting the judge’s verdict afteran eight-day trial in which they faceddriving charges.The charges arose from a July 2004motorcade, which resulted in the PrimeMinister being rushed from Waimateto Christchurch airport after thecancellation of her flight. The incidentbecame known as Wallabygate.As the judge delivered an extremelywell considered verdict it becameclear that he too felt that deliveringjudgement on those at the very bottomof their organisation’s hierarchy wassomething of an injustice.Policy and training failuresHe talked about failures of trainingand policy, which saw dedicated andpragmatic police officers simply doingwhat they honestly believed was theirduty - to deliver the Prime Ministerto Christchurch airport as quickly aspossible. He pointed out that the leaddriver, who volunteered to head themotorcade after having been originallyassigned to guard Timaru airport, stillCopper’s CrosswordBy Constable CunningSeptember cluesAcross:1. Convicted persons choices, some asbowlers perhaps (7)5. Pester this hunting dog (5)8. Throw out (5)9. Short cleric gene makes one retaliate (7)10. Small drink for child (3)11. Glasses worn by annoying insect? Dirtymarks (9)13. Material thing handed down bypredecessor (6)14. Still in original condition (6)16. Cover Ross before he goes from one sideto the other (9)17. Part of a circle (3)19. Sends up before hanging (7)21. Slightly damp (5)22. Person to whom money is to be paid (5)23. Cede day away before it went off (7)believed a threat to the Prime Ministerexisted, even though, unbeknown tohim, the person concerned had beenarrested earlier in the day.The judge did find that the drivingbetween Timaru and Templeton nearChristchurch, as described by witnesses,was dangerous. The officers did notgive evidence but were surprised at theparticular instances, which the judgefound to be dangerous. In hindsight,some may have chosen to give evidence.In any case, the judge dismissed thecharges against three of the officers,relating to driving between Waimateand Washdyke, near Timaru, and tocharges of being party to the drivingof those behind the wheel. The two‘parties’ were the local and DPS PPO’s.In acquitting them, and subsequentlyconvicting but not disqualifying thethree drivers, the judge was making aclear statement that the blame restedfurther up the organisation.Systemic problemsThis was a case that screamed out forthe Police administration to admitto systemic failures, which left fiveconstables unbriefed and unsupervisedto take the Prime Minister on an urgent,and unplanned 200 km journey.Down:1. Representative (5)2. Good reputation makingsomething almost exclusively (13)3. Man made objects after catscombine (9)4. Sprinkles with water (6)5. A disease made up of a 4 H(1.1.1.)6. Unduly harsh maybe? (13)7. Tended wound (7)12. Cop airman and get great view(9)13. Incarcerate (5,2)15. Ran away from (6)18. Summonsed to appear forunnecessary play (5)20. Day before (3)1 2 3 4 5 6 78 910 11 1213 141516 17 1819 20 2122 23No blame needed to be apportioned,just an acceptance that as we mustevolve in all aspects of policing we mustnow get our policy and training aroundmotorcades into the 21st century.Sure, we’d have been criticised bythe usual suspects but we need toharden to what is generally self-servingcommentary anyway. Ironically, NewZealanders’ sense of fair play meant thatfrontline police gained the sympathyof the majority of the public becauseof the obvious unfairness of havingvulnerable constables standing in thedock.People’s views on the Prime Minister’srole tended to reflect their politics,although a subjective view would haveseen her offering the officers bettersupport, especially following theirconviction.Finally, the biggest plus for Police wasthat once again when the lives andcharacters of a group of good solid kiwicops and their families were laid bare,the public saw the quality of officer thatthey have out there protecting them.Footnote: One of the most movingmoments of the trial came when thethree acquitted officers stayed in thedock to support the three others whowere awaiting sentencing.August answers:Across:1. Manage4. Banded8. Legislating10. Treason11. Axe12. Oral13. Bad14. Odds17. Sao18. Culprit19. Secondments20. Shares21. ClosedDown:1. Maliciousness2. Negotiators3. Gasket5. Aliens6. Depressurised7. Marshalling9. Grandstands15. Icicle16. Primal171

September 2005Police News The Voice of PolicePolice Health Plan Ltd in conjunctionwith our Medical Advisors, Medilink,publishes articles on medical issuesthat affect our members.Children’s dental healthOral health is considerably more than havinghealthy teeth and a manicured smile.It is critical to good general health andindividual wellbeing. Dental decay andgum disease may not only highlightinadequacies in a child’s diet, but also poordental hygiene practices.Tooth decay is a chronic bacterial disease,which spans all ages. Diet has been shownto be one of the most important factorsin the development and maintenance ofhealthy teeth. Tooth decay begins with theingestion of fermentable carbohydrates(all forms of sugar and cooked starches).Frequency of intake is of far greatersignificance than the amount of sugarsconsumed. A child sucking a ‘sweet’ bottleover a 20-minute period is at greater riskof tooth decay than the child who has a“sweet fix” over a five-minute period.Tooth cavities/holes are known as dentalcaries (caries is from the Latin word meaning“to rot”). Dental caries is a loss of mineralsand calcium (demineralisation). The diseaseprocess follows a defined pattern:• A colourless protective film found insaliva called mucin, coats the teeth.• Bacteria (which live in a substanceknown as plaque) collect in the mucinby gathering on and between the teethin the adhered food deposits.• During their living and reproductiveprocess the feeding bacteria excrete acidswhich demineralises the tooth enamel.• This in turn leads to the formation ofdental caries.• The longer the exposure to thebacterial contamination, the greaterrisk there is of enamel damage.Risk factorsThe at-risk child is the child who consumesa regular intake of cakes, biscuits, jams,carbonised drinks, acid foods and sweets.Between-meal snacks of sticky foods such aschips, crisps and raisins also contribute todental deterioration, as these foods coat theteeth. Small children and infants who haveregular bottles of cordials and fruit juice ordummies/soothers dipped in honey, syrupor sugar may be pacified but may also fallinto a high risk category for tooth decay.Research also indicates that continuousbottle-feeding of milk and formula may alsocontribute to tooth decay, especially whenan infant falls asleep while sucking on abottle.Nutritional influences affect the formationof teeth. Poor nutrition from conception toage 11 may affect enamel formation. Theenamel becomes pitted with rough areas,which then become susceptible to decay.A diet of foods rich in calcium is essentialfor the formation and maintenance ofhealthy, strong teeth. The greatest supplyof calcium is found in dairy foods, milkand milk products such as yoghurt andcheese. If you or your child are allergic todairy products consult your health or dentalprofessional to ensure you have an adequatecalcium intake. Appropriate calcium intakeis a life long requirement, as important foradults as for growing children.The role of salivaOnce a tooth has erupted through thegum the saliva in the mouth plays animportant role in dental health. Saliva is acomplex viscous liquid that is secreted bythe salivary glands. It has many functions,including maintaining a moist state in themouth, diluting and clearing potentiallyerosive food products, buffing dietary acidand providing calcium and phosphates formineral replacement (remineralisation).Dental hygiene practices should beencouraged as soon as the first teetherupt through the gums. Teeth should becleaned as soon as possible after eating.Thorough dental hygiene should bemaintained not only through childhood,but also throughout adult life.Teeth and gums should be checkedregularly by a dental health professional.There is ongoing debate about whenprofessional dental care should commence.In New Zealand most children should havehad their first dental examination by theage of three years. However, in the UnitedStates of America, dental care is encouragedduring the first year of life.Dental Health services are provided forNew Zealand children by the SchoolDental Service (SDS), which providesbasic restorative dental care for preschoolers,primary and intermediateschool children. District Health Boards(DHB) employs dental therapists forprimary dental care.If you require assistance and/or additionalinformation please contact by Email:oliver@medilink.co.nzhelenb@medilink.co.nz© Medilink Limited 2005.The yuppie and the shepherdA shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly abrand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud towards him. The driver,a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and Yves StLaurent tie, leaned out the window and asked the shepherd, “If I tell youexactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?”The shepherd looked at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looked at hispeacefully grazing flock and calmly answered, “Sure.”The yuppie parked his car, whipped out his notebook and connected it to acellphone, surfed to a NASA page on the Internet, where he called up a GPSsatellite navigation system, scanned the area, and then opened up a databaseand an Excel spreadsheet with complex formulas. He sent an email off and,after a few minutes, received a response. Finally, he printed out a 150-pagereport on his hi-tech, miniature printer then turned to the shepherd and said,“You have exactly 1586 sheep.”“That is correct; take one of the sheep.” said the shepherd.He watched the young man select one of the animals and bundle it into hiscar.Then the shepherd said: “If I can tell you exactly what your business is, willyou give me back my sheep?”“OK, why not.” answered the young man.“Clearly, you are a consultant.” said the shepherd.“That’s correct,” said the yuppie, “but how did you guess that?”“No guessing required,” answered the shepherd. “You turned up herealthough nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I alreadyknew, to a question I never asked, and you don’t know crap about mybusiness. Now give me back my dog.”Avoid the loan sharks………As a Police and Families Credit Union member you are SPECIAL and wewant to help you achieve your financial goals.If your goal is one of the following, the Credit Union can help you get it,and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.• Retire high interest credit card debt or repay a finance company’s HP’s;• Buy a new or used motor vehicle;• Take that overseas holiday you have always dreamed about;• Do those home improvements that you have been putting off;• Or any other purpose;Police and Families Lifestyle Personal Loans are affordable, and the onlyloan you will ever need. All Lifestyle loans have a revolving credit feature.Police and Families can approve loans from$500 to $350,000 (Use GSF or PSS as security).Unsecured loans up to a maximum of $10,000 are available.The Police and Families Credit Union’s normal lending criteria apply.Give our lending staff a call now 0800 285 626 orcontact Member Services staff on 0800 429 000for a loan application.Auckland members may contact Tony Shalfoonon 025 268 9429.172

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORTSPORTS NEWSTo contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238 3139• They’re off – the national cross-country field is dispatched by the starter.White and Hall take cross-country titlesWanganui’s Aaron White andNorthland’s Wendy Hall are the NZPolice cross-country champions for 2005after strong front-running efforts to winthe respective titles at Minogue Park inHamilton.The NZ Police Association, the PoliceCouncil of Sport and The Shoe Clinicsponsored the event.Raceday dawned fine but recent rainmeant that sections of the courseprovided tricky underfoot conditionsover the 3000 metre laps.White won the Open Men’s title over9,000 metres in 34.11 with SteveWestlake coming through strongly forsecond place in 35.38, just ahead ofTony Bronwrigg in 35.50.Wendy Hall returned to the fray of crosscountryto capture the Open Women’stitle over 6,000 metres in 25.59, wellclear of nearest rival Caron Lynn whoclocked 29.51 with Beth Houliston thirdhome in 34.12.‘Chills’ bounces backMark Chillingworth, who was injuredgoing into last year’s champs, bouncedback to top form this year to take theVeterans/Masters Men’s title in 38.32,just over two minutes in front of GlenTurner (40.38) with 11 seconds back toChris Glen. The M50 title went to TimMarsters (43.10) with Ray Macolmson(48.13) runner-up.Jackie O’Donoghue took out theVeterans/Masters Women’s title in 32.25while Pauline Orpet chased Jackie homein 33.54 with Kirst Hurnen home thirdin 34.20. In the Draught Horse category(over-95 kgs) Brad Clark was far toopolished for the opposition, runningaway to win in 26.30, over four minutesahead of John Nelson (30.51) with theoldest man in the field, 53-year-oldDave Robertson, running a fine third in31.15.Next year’s championships will be heldin Wellington.• The race for glory – (from left to right): Jeremy Steedman(145), Tristan Barnsgraham (146), Ray Malcolmson (180) andGraeme Wood (142) nearing the finish shute.• Mike Wootton (Te Puke) and Open Women’s title winner,Wendy Hall (Northland) match strides.Visit www.policeassn.org.nz for updated contact details for thePolice Council of Sport management committee, District Sports Officers and the latest schedule of events.173

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceDiane Limbrey takes national Judo titleThe NZ Judo Championships were held over Queen’s Birthdayweekend in Hamilton.Constable Diane Limbrey of Wanganui’s GDB was the onlyPolice competitor among the 250 entrants. She representedthe Wanganui City College Judo Club (WCCJC).Competing in the senior women’s under 70kg division, Dianeeasily took first place, scoring convincing wins over all heropponents. Diane is a former titleholder, having last won thechampionship in 1998.This year, she went on to take second place in the opendivision, losing narrowly in a hard fought final. To capoff a great weekend, Diane was named the tournament’soutstanding senior women’s competitor.NZ team repHer victory assures her of a place in the NZ team for theOceania Judo Champs being held in Queensland thisNovember.Diane and training partner Garry Davies, both second degreeblack belts, set up the WCCJC this year after realising a longheld dream of teaching Judo’s traditional values in a funlearning environment.Seven of the clubs members gained placings at the nationals,while one has just been named in a NZ development team foran international competition in Melbourne, where Diane hasalready been selected as a referee.Last year, Diane gained her national A referee’s licence.This allows her to officiate at NZ national and Australianlevel. Next year she intends sitting her Oceania licence andultimately her international licence, allowing her to officiate atWorld and Olympic level.NZ PoliceCouncil of SportNational Police SquashTournamentTaupo - October 7th to October 9th 2005Squash – The world’s No.1 healthiest sportNZ Police Council of Sport in Association with Taupo SquashPresentThe 2nd Annual National Police Squash TournamentVenue: Taupo Squash Rackets Club - AC Baths Avenue - TaupoDates: Friday 7th October to Sunday 9th October 2005Starting from: 6pm Friday until 3pm SundayEntry fee: $100.00 per team of 4 or $25.00 individualFormat: National trophy for winning team - Prizes for all gradesAccommodation: Go to this website for all details -www.laketauponz.com - click on - ‘ Where to Stay ‘Entry includes carvery dinner & entertainment on Saturday nightTheme night - Fancy Hat Party - great prizes to be won.All enquiries & entries should be addressed to -The Tournament Director, Constable Sean MillarMobile: 0274 975 784Email: tauposquash@clear.net.nzFax: (07) 376 7190 Club phone: (07) 378 8392.The major sponsor of this National Tournament is theNew Zealand Police Council of Sport.• Training partner Garry Davies looks injeopardy of being thrown over Diane Limbrey’sshoulder, as the Wanganui police officer showsthe form that gained her a national Judo titlerecently.Rugby:Police Challenge CupAuckland currently hold the Police Challenge Cup and are inthe process of inviting challenges from other police districts.To date, South Auckland and Waikato are the only districts tohave accepted the challenge. The current holders are takingthe cup on tour in order to fulfill the Waikato challenge,playing the ‘Mooloo men’ in their home patch.Over the last four years, Auckland has successfully defendedthe cup in Wellington and Christchurch, taking the cup on tourin an effort to foster resurgence in police rugby competition.If there are any other districts that want to issue a challenge forthe cup please Email or call Barry Gallagher at the Air SupportUnit in Auckland.The cup holders are available to play the games until mid-October.Well if that doesn’t take the (wedding) cakeA Southern Communications Centre call taker was flabbergastedto receive a recent 111 call from a bride on her wedding day.No, the bridal car hadn’t been in an accident on her way to herbig day and no, her soon-to-be husband hadn’t got into a dust-upwith his future in-laws either. The bride rang the police emergencynumber after oil had been spilled on her wedding dress.Comms Centre staff around the country know only too well thefrustration of having to deal with people who ring the emergencyservice for the most inane reasons – from wanting plumbingadvice to how to get spiders out of the bath, so, the bride’spanicked phone call was yet another variation on the ‘nuisance’theme.174

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005PLANNINGFOR YOURLIFE AFTERWORK?Are you a member of the GSFor the PSS?If you are, it is important youunderstand your choices. Thefinancial decisions you maketoday can have a major effecton your lifestyle in the future.Getting advice on how tomaximise your Police Superentitlement is essential.For a free initial consultation,speak to a Police FinancialPlanner today.NZ Police Council of Sport2005 CALENDAR OF EVENTSFor more information regarding any of these events, or including otherPolice national sporting events, contact: Alison Murray (04) 238 3139;Email: councilofsport@xtra.co.nzSeptember19 - 21 National Police Ski Championships – QueenstownContact: Malcolm Johnston extn: 3680821 – 23 National Snowboarding Champs- CardronaContact: Greg Murton extn: 36725October7 -9 National Police Squash ChampionshipsContact: Geoff Duff 0274 452 09225 -26 National Mountain Bike and Road Cycle tournament –Wellington Contact: Debbie Mair extn: 4319729 -1 Combined New Zealand and South Island Golf tournamentNovember Contact: Brian Hewett extn: 31023November20 South Island Touch tournamentContact: Tony Maw extn: 3578322 & 23 South Island Police Bowls – DunedinContact: Allan Bremner (03) 454 3958February 200612 -14 Police North Island Golf Championships - TaupoContact: Steven Lockett extn: 74324 or Allan Humphriesextn: 74323.0800 ON BEAT0800 662 328New Zealand Police AssociationSouth Island Police Touch Rugby TournamentSunday, 20 November, 2005 9:30amMandeville Sports GroundsOhoka, North CanterburyEntry Fee: $150 per teamFree family entertainmentBouncy castle, face painting, horse rides,lolly scramble & kids’ races.Contact:Your future. Our focus.Tony Maw, Rangiora Police, for details:anthony.maw/POLICE, 35783 or 027 200 1311See you there.175

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceHoliday home rule changesRecently the Board of Directors of the Police Welfare Fund changedsome of the rules in relation to the use of the holiday homes.These rule changes include:• Multiple Unit Bookings: (same location) Members will no longerbe able to book more than one unit for the same night. Note:We have identified an increasing trend of members bookingmultiple units at the same location. This reduces the availability toother members. The system is being amended so that, except forperiods when a location has a low occupancy (when multiple unitbookings will be allowed), a member will only be able to book oneunit at a time.• Multiple Unit Bookings: (different locations) Members will nolonger be able to book units at different locations for the samenight.• Booking more than one year in advance: Members will only beable to book a maximum of 365 days for the last date of the booking.Previously members were booking 365 days ahead for the first dateand up to 10 days from that date. In reality, some members werebooking up to 375 days ahead. This will no longer be possible.• Alterations to bookings: Members will not be able to alterbooking dates more than twice. This will stop the practice ofsome members who appear to be sliding booking dates to get aparticular date.“These changes were made to ensure equity to all of our members inregard to access and usage of our holiday homes,” said Pete Hayes,Manager of the Police Welfare Fund.“Unfortunately, a very small number of our members were slidingbooking dates and booking multiple units to the detriment of themajority of our members. These changes should help correct theseissues. Police Welfare Fund will monitor the use of homes more closelyand where it is clear members are booking homes for friends/familyetc, the occupants will be asked to vacate the homes immediately.The primary member or their current spouse must be present for thelength of the occupancy,” said Mr Hayes.Holiday home occupancy continues to come under pressure at times, butmembers should realise that they should check unit availability more thanonce, it is quite possible that the unit, although booked 11 months out,may become free closer to the preferred date. Member Services Centrestaff have a waiting list system for all holiday home locations.Contact a Member Services representative on 0800 500 122(Police Network 44446) to make a booking or make a bookingdirectly on www.policeassn.org.nz.The holidayhome prayerIf you have used the stove to cookPlease just take a final lookDon’t ever leave a messOr you’ll cause the next user stressAnd maybe turn their stomach crook.Police holiday homes are real beautiesBut don’t shirk the cleaning dutiesDon’t try to be meanLeave it tidy and cleanDon’t leave others to pick up your “booties”Now holidays are not meant to be taxingSo forget about phones, Emails and faxingPut your feet up and enjoyHave a can and employThe “eat, drink and be merry” way of relaxingWhen your vacation has come to an endAnd you haven’t gone round the bendLeave the unused stuff in the freezerFor the next fortunate geezerIf they’re hungry it might be a Godsend.As you leave this house please caterfor those who follow laterIt can take its tollIf you leave no toilet rollOr just the tiniest piece of paper.-C R (Ace) O’Hara.Nominations called forAssociation Vice-PresidentNominations are called for (one of two) positions of Police Association Vice-President.The Vice-President will be elected by Conference in October for a three-yearterm until October 2008.All nominees must be current financial members of the Association, nominatedand seconded by financial members. Nominations should be submitted on theprescribed nomination form, available from Mrs Tui Hunter at the AssociationNational Office.Nominations should be sent to:Chris PentecostNational Secretary, NZ Police AssociationPO Box 12344, WellingtonFax 04 471 1309.Nominations must be received no later than 5pm on Tuesday, September 20.Current incumbent Vice-President Geoff Smith has advised he will not beseeking re-election.Association and Welfare FundAGM and Annual ConferenceThe Annual Conference of the New Zealand Police Association will be heldfrom Wednesday, 12 October until Friday, 14 October at the James CookHotel Grand Chancellor, 147 The Terrace, Wellington.The Police and Families Credit Union AGM will be held between 11.00amand 12.00 pm on Wednesday, October 12 and the Police Welfare FundAGM on Wednesday, 12 October between 12.00pm-1.00pm.Great response to GSF roadshowSpicers Wealth Management have been touring the country and talking to Policemembers about their option to transfer from the Police Government SuperannuationFund Scheme (GSF) to the Police Superannuation Scheme (PSS).Spicers’ advisers Brian Race, Derek Grantham and Aaron Hing looked at the pros andcons of each superannuation option, and highlighted the importance of planning forthe future. It was stressed that there is no one right answer for everyone – the rightoption depends on your own situation.Over 1500 members attended the seminars and many have requested followup meetings with a Spicers adviser. If you have any queries or would like moreinformation from Spicers, please call the Police Financial Planning Line on 0800ON BEAT (0800 662 328).• Over 1500 members attended meetings.176

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005Keen On Wineby Ricky CollinsSamplings from ourbiggest wine producerAllied Domecq, formerly Montana Wines, are New Zealand’sbiggest wine producer and distributor. They represent someof our best-known wine brands, including the Montana,Church Road, Lindauer, Corbans and Stoneleigh ranges. Allup, Allied Domecq are responsible for about one third ofNew Zealand’s total grape harvest each year, and currentlyclaim about 30% of our local wine sales and up to 50% ofNew Zealand’s wine export sales.In addition, they distribute wine in New Zealand for anumber of other New Zealand producers such as C J Pask ofHawke’s Bay, Gibbston Valley of Central Otago, and GroveMill, Lawson’s Dry Hills and Wither Hills of Marlborough.Their international portfolio is extensive. Some of the labelsthey represent include key French distributors such as Delas,Louis Latour and Cordier; high profile Australian producerssuch as Tatachilla, St Hallet and Plantagenet; and theArgentinean star producer Graffigna.The marketing arm of Allied Domecq has made the most ofsuch a wide-ranging portfolio by taking a stranglehold overthe restaurant trade in New Zealand. They have successfullyprovided a one-stop shop solution to many of the country’srestaurants by selling them the benefits of professional winelist selection to match their menus, complimentary winelist production, and the hassle-free benefits of dealing withone supplier. This is a significant carrot to many restaurants,as often their specialty is food not wine. However, thedominance of Allied Domecq winelists now in place across thecountry is a little off-putting to diners looking for variety inthe form of small wine producers’ product, or regional wineschosen to match the menu.Recently Allied Domecq released a new range of winesaimed at providing the market with some distinctive regionalsite-specific choices. The Boundary Vineyards range of winesinclude two Chardonnays, one from Gisborne and onefrom Hawke’s Bay, a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough,and a Pinot Noir from the Waipara region. These wines areproduced from the free run juice of the grapes, ensuring thefinal product has vibrant, distinctive flavours, and all sell for$18 to $19 RRP.My two picks of the range are the Tuki Tuki Road Hawke’sBay Chardonnay and the King’s Road Waipara PinotNoir. The Chardonnay is an interesting wine with stonefruitand butterscotch flavours, a creamy texture and subtle oakintegration. The Pinot Noir surprised me. It has more body,complexity and texture than I would expect from an under$20 Pinot. It has distinctive varietal flavours of cherry andraspberries, good structure and a smoky oak finish. The onlydownside is a relatively short finish, but with some age on thevines. I expect this will improve in future vintages. This is anexcellent value-for-money wine.Crime/violence third most important problemPublic concerns about crime and violence have risen, accordingto the UMR Research nationwide omnibus survey for July. Thesurvey questioned 750 New Zealanders over the age of 18, askingrespondents to rank what they considered the “most importantproblem” facing the country. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.Here are the results in graph form:MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM - TOP 5What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?40%3530252015HEALTH: 13.3%EDUCATION: 12.3%105RACE RELATIONS:8.3%CRIME /VIOLENCE: 7.8%ECONOMY: 7.2%0Mar-02Apr-02May-02Jun-02Lt Aug 02Sep-02Oct-02Nov-02Dec-02Jan-03Feb-03Mar-03Apr-03May-03Jun-03Jul-03Aug-03Sep-03Oct-03Nov-03Dec-03Jan-04Feb-04Mar-04Apr-04May-04Jun-04Jul-04Aug-04Sep-04Oct-04Nov-04Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05Mar-05Apr-05May-05Jun-05Jul-05We remember…Memorial WallOur sympathies to all our members’families for those who have passedaway in recent months...Who passed away…CLARK Gareth Eldred 17-Apr-05 Member TokoroaCONNELL Brian Hugh 19-May-05 Retired member BlenheimBURT Leonard John 17-Jul-05 Retired member DunedinNEALE Michael Eric 23-Jul-05 Retired member AucklandSTEVENSON Lynette Ann 29-Jul-05 Spouse of member ChristchurchCROWLEY Aubrey 15-Aug-05 Retired member Tauranga177

September 2005Police News The Voice of PoliceLetters to the Editor Write it here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.Signed letters are preferred, but in all cases the writer’s name and address must be supplied.Names will be published unless there is a good reason for anonymity. The editor reserves theright to edit, abridge or decline letters without explanation. Email to: editor@policeassn.org.nzor write it to the Editor at PO Box 12344, Wellington. Letters under 400 words are preferred.Burglary 101 on TV2Currently TV2 are running a weeklyprogramme called “To catch a thief”. Thisprogramme is fronted by ex-criminals andshows the methods and expertise used bythem to burgle houses. The programme is, Ibelieve, sponsored by State Insurance and Ialso believe there is no Police input to it.What I cannot believe is that we are so naivein this country that we allow a programmelike this to be made, let alone go to air withoutsome sort of discussion or objection.I am one of several SOCOs (Scene of CrimeOfficers) who work hard to investigatecrime scenes, searching for prints, DNAand other traces left behind. In the pastfew weeks, I have had a dozen peoplecomment to me how their burglary has beencommitted by the method shown in theprogramme. One such burglary was doneby the use of a bed duvet to wrap up goodsstolen and then simply stuffed into the bootof a car.The victims were so distraught they refusedto stay in their home.I feel, as the others do, that the Police shouldbe publicly criticising this trashy programme.Wanna-be criminals relish the sight of theseprogrammes to hone-up their skills. Recently, Ihave noticed a fall off in finding ‘prints’ at scenesand I believe this is because the programmeshows the ex-criminals wearing gloves andusing a smash, kick attitude at point of entry- alarm or not.Do we not care anymore what the public feelsabout issues that concern us as police officers?I shudder to think of the reaction when theyproduce a programme on police surveillance,monitoring or intelligence gathering methods.I feel sure that would be of concern.I personally think that allowing thisprogramme to be screened once a week isdamaging the public’s faith in the Police andas so many recent complainants have said:“What’s wrong with the Police, don’t theycare that criminals watch TV and copy whatthey see?”I have the details of those complainantsmaking those statements, and I really feelsomeone should front the producers andaddress the issue for their sake.Gary Tibbotts(Canterbury)Thanks for taking the time to write Gary. Weraised this issue with NZ Police’s GeneralManager (Public Affairs), Michael Player whoresponded as follows: “Police made it clearthat we did not support production of thisprogramme when it was first mooted and wewere approached and asked whether we wishedto be associated with it. While the objectivesof “target hardening” may be laudable, ourpolicy over many years is that we take a veryconservative line over any programmes, whichmay be construed as providing a tutorial tobudding criminals. We understand there isunlikely to be a second series but we will beformally writing to the management of TV2to convey feedback from around the country,which suggests that the programme has not beenhelpful to crime prevention.” – Editor.The correlation betweenpublic support andthe use of discretionYour correspondent J Hamilton (Police News,August) who wrote accusing Neville Bakerof sending Road Policing back to the DarkAges needs to be reminded of somethingthat I had drummed into me – and whichI came to understand to be totally correctduring 36 years of policing. That is thepublic are our friends, they are ourbosses (they pay our wages) and are ourcustomers and our support base. The daythat a police officer’s “discretion” is takenaway is, in fact, the day that policing goesback to the Dark Ages.Just because someone breaches a statute orregulation (and Lord knows there are dozensof these that are not overly important) doesnot make the person a criminal. Nor doesit mean that the breach was intentional orimportant. Who has not done so?A warning by Police, with perhaps someadvice for future circumstances, will let thepublic know we are human, understanding,and basically on their side. Then - whenPolice ask for public support in anyinvestigation we will get co-operation,instead of ‘“Get stuffed, you enforced thezero tolerance rule, not me.”Any country police officer who relies on thedistrict’s population for support, especially inemergencies, must be under extreme pressureand must shudder every time they see letterslike the one written by J Hamilton.Discretion is what makes the NZ Police soeffective and long may that continue.T.V. Thomson(Invercargill)Discretion andRoad PolicingWhy is it that some cops still see RoadPolicing as dirty words? I refer to NevilleBaker’s attempt to justify discretion atissuing tickets (Police News, July issue).Road Policing is an important part of thePolice and yes we do collect a lot of fines.We throw money and personnel at murders,yet when a person is killed on the roads it’sjust a case of ‘accidents happen’. This is notacceptable. If there is something we can doto avoid an unnecessary death we have aduty to do whatever we can to avoid it.In the Franklin area we have been runningOperation Wrath, as the number of roaddeaths are totally unacceptable. We haveenforced this vigorously during the past sevenmonths and have issued a large amount oftickets. But the proof of all this hard work isthat we have reduced the accident rate by overa third. How many would have been fatalitieswe will never know. We have some positiveand negative views from the public but ingeneral most are positive comments, whichinclude that the general road speeds havedecreased. If I have to issue a ticket to everyperson in my district and it saves one life thenI have done my job.I agree that there are some over zealousofficers out there but you get that in alldepartments, not just Road Policing.As for knowing when it is safe to speed,unfortunately most drivers do not havethe necessary driving skills to judge this.Driving standards are so poor in thiscountry that we have to treat everyone thesame way. We still have discretion and I forone use it daily, but still manage to issueanything from 10 to 25 tickets a day. Am Iproud of this? No. It means that we have along way to go to change the way the publicview of speeding. They would soon changetheir views if they had to deal with fatalsand have to see the devastation of familiesafter the death of a loved one.As for our contacts, they don’t just includespeeding but also unwarranted vehicles andthose in a dangerous condition. Some goodlock ups have come as a result of minortraffic stops.I know that some cops don’t share the sameenthusiasm towards Road Policing as I do,but it’s just as important a part of the Policeas any other department is.As for Neville’s philosophy of never givingsomeone a ticket for an infringement that youwould do yourself, I think this is a little highand mighty. If we speed we face the sameconsequences and we should know better.Most cops don’t issue tickets for nothing.It takes someone to break the law for us toenforce it. And at night I go home and cansleep very well knowing that the drivers I haveissued tickets to may think twice of speedingand maybe it will save a life!So let’s lay this revenue gathering argumentto rest. If you don’t want a ticket then don’tspeed and abide by the law, it’s that simple.Nick Richards(Pukekohe)Driving is a privilegeThe letter from Neville Baker fromQueensland in the Police News (July edition)amused me.I’m ex-traffic and it still amazes me to see178

New Zealand Police AssociationSeptember 2005the same old police mentality applied toroad policing.Neville harps on about officers’ discretionand hypocrisy and his amazing drivingrecord and sleeping well at night etc. I thinkhe misses the point, the same point all thoseother officers miss when they talk aboutissuing speeding tickets etc.I think all new people to the job willacknowledge the overwhelming feeling thatthey are in the spotlight when they get into a patrol car. A lot of them never realisedjust how much attention members of thepublic pay to officers driving around as partof their normal duties. Let’s face it everyonelooks at cops in cars.It’s also about this time that you becomeaware that you can no longer drive aroundwithout your seatbelt on. You can’t exceedthe speed limit without justification or youmay have to suffer the wrath of an inquiryinstigated by some disgruntled member ofthe public, who has recently been issuedwith a speeding ticket. You now have todeport yourself to a high standard, nothinglooks worse than cops driving around withtheir boots on the dash and their seatsreclined right back with their arms hangingout the windows and a McDonalds burgerstuffed in their mouths.So, as a matter of pride you sit straighter,your uniform is sharp, your drivingbecomes impeccable, your speed lowers asan example to all, you are above reproach,because your performance is constantlybeing monitored by members of the public.You are an example for people to follow.These habits naturally transfer to yournormal everyday driving and you constantlywonder as everyone else screams past youwhat the hurry is and why they simplydidn’t leave earlier so they didn’t have torush.And when you issue that ticket, and theysay to you: “Who really travels at 50?” Youcan say, “I do” and mean it.To suggest we are being hypocritical showsjust how guilty Neville must be feeling(I wonder how many tickets he has hadlately).As far as ‘quotas’ and ‘discretion’ areconcerned, if there are 25 people out therecommitting offences worthy of tickets thenit serves them right if they get one. We allknow the rules.Remember driving is a privilege, not a right,something we tend to forget.P Gray(North Shore)Freedom of speechon policing issuesI was concerned to read Darryl Sweeney’sletter in the July issue of the Police Newswhere he expresses some regrets aboutthe external media interest that has beengenerated by the publication of his letter tothe Police News.I was even more concerned about hisimplied difficulties with the Executive as theresult of the publication of his letter. Whenletters are submitted to Police News thewriter must expect that the Police Executivewill also read the publication (or at leasthave items of interest flagged to them byother police officers). But what Darryl seemsto be suggesting in his letter it is that it is thesubsequent public exposure of his earlierletter that has placed him in an invidiousposition, career-wise? If this is the case,then it should be of real concern to us all.The organisational culture of the Police iscurrently being widely debated in the publicarena. If members cannot constructivelydiscuss important issues openly, withoutrunning the risk of being censured ormarginalised, then the organisation is inreal trouble. If the Executive doesn’t likewhat members are saying, then perhaps itis a timely reminder that not all memberssubscribe to the Emperor-has-new-clothesapproach that performance-based contractsseem to provoke in many ambitious policeofficers.The New Zealand Police has only one realasset – its staff. The Police News shouldcontinue to provide a forum for robustdebate about all policing issues regardlessof how palatable the views expressed areto the Executive. If they feel uncomfortablewith that concept then perhaps it is timeto remind them of Tallentyre’s summaryof Voltaire’s attitude towards Halvetius’,following the burning of De l’esprit in 1759,when Voltaire argued: “I disapprove of whatyou say, but I will defend to the death yourright to say it.”We do not need a publication, like someI have seen, that contain nothing morecerebral than police sportspersons beamingat sporting trophies and vacationing copsholding up dead fish! If operational policeofficers do not have a voice (regardlessof whether their views reflect the officialpolice line or not), the schism betweenthe practitioners and the Executive willcontinue to widen.So Darryl – instead of beating yourselfup over what has transpired you shouldbe patting yourself on the back for caringenough about policing to write your originalwell-stated and articulate letter. Fromtime-to-time we have to make a consciouschoice to live our lives on our feet or on ourknees (and take whatever lumps that comeour way as a result of that stance, as youobviously have!)As the omnipresent DB panel would nodoubt say if they were reprising youractions: “That man deserves a DB!”And if the DB panel doesn’t catch up withyou, I’ll buy you one if our paths cross inthe future.Dave Haslett(Christchurch)Time to do somebridge building?Yet again Deputy Commissioner Provosthas commented about the Police and porn.Last time it was in the bully board, this timein the July edition of Police News. Her bullyboard message offered the chance to contacther about it (with a free chance to get yourname on the list of the condemned).In Police News she commented thatpornography is “intolerable in anorganisation which deals with victims ofsexual abuse”. Why? What is she saying?Is it that if you look at a picture of a nakedwoman that you are a sex offender at somelevel? I think that Deputy CommissionerProvost is perhaps showing some deepseatedpersonal opinion here.Yes, a few staff had things on theircomputers that they shouldn’t have had.Yes, they were bad boys and girls but doesthis mean there is a sick Police culture?Whatever – build a bridge.Homosexual sex is legal, prostitution is legaland the age of consent is probably next. Ifwe all followed the Deputy Commissioner’slead there is no need for straight, redblooded, rugby playing, beer-drinkingpeople in the NZ Police, or anyone with apersonality and a life.I joined the Police because of the goodculture, one that the bosses now seemto want to eradicate. Think about it youbosses, why are more and more staff onlystaying for a few years?Ian Row(Kaikohe)Ethics and winningback public respectMuch has been said from HQ recently overethics and winning back respect for policeby the public. Like most frontline staff, Icringed at the so-called ‘porngate’ and itssurrounding publicity dumped on us not bythe media, but by our own administration.On top of all the other crap we have beendealt in the media recently this was a bodyblow to staff morale throughout the country.I have been in this job for over 32 yearsnow and have never written a letter to PoliceNews in all that time. Somehow, I nowfeel I have earned this right to venture anopinion.Putting ‘porngate’ aside, I have just read anarticle with the headline “Gay cops wanted.”For goodness sake! How is this sort ofpublicity going to earn the respect of thegeneral public?When I joined the Police, the prequisiteswere intelligence, honesty, integrity,respect from your former workmates,schools and neighbours. In other words,character. Neither my skin colour, (partlybrown for those that are interested) normy sexual orientation (heterosexual, fatherand grandfather, also for those that areinterested) came into the equation.As was stated in the ‘porngate’ disclosures,the makeup of the New Zealand Policereflects New Zealand society. I don’t ask ifmy workmates are gay. I couldn’t care lessand, in fact, have worked with several gayofficers. Providing they do the same job asme, in a professional manner, then goodon them. This politically-correct nonsensebeing dealt to us through government and179

September 2005Police News The Voice of Policethe administration has got to be curtailed.We should not be targetting specific “ethnic”or “gay” persons to join our organisation.Recruiting staff for this organisationshould still be based on the same soundprinciples as before, honest, diligent peopleof good character with a desire to servetheir communities, regardless of theirethnic background or sexual orientation.If we want to win back the respect of thepublic lets start at the top with a sound,commonsense approach to matters andgetting back to basics. Bring back thebeat and community cops, stop and talkto the public and show an interest in theinformation and offences reported.May I suggest that those at the top stopand smell the roses and perhaps walk thestreets in front of the ivory tower and askreal people on the street what they wantfrom their police? The answer may wellbring a refreshing change in their thinking. Icertainly hope so.Graham Gough(Mangawhai)The proper perspectiveI disagree with Deputy Commissioner, Lyn’sProvost’s opinions, which were expressed inthe July issue of Police News.Firstly, I must commend the Office ofthe Commissioner for the initiative inconducting such ‘analysis’ as OperationInsight to ensure that criminals of thedespicable variety were not lurking inour midst – i.e. paedophiles or childpornographers.Certainly, were we able to conduct similar‘analysis’ to identify members who willbring us all into disrepute through variousoffences in the spectrum of misdemeanors,the Internal Enquiry Office would beobsolete.I make that assertion having concluded, inthe absence of a statement to the contrary,that the ‘operation’ could only have beencommenced by the OoC, given that at thetime, the department was under heavy firefrom within and without, over the CommsCentres inadequacies; high ranking staffmembers were facing historical sexualallegations; questions of insufficient staffingand a ‘sick culture;’ and generally being theusual ‘ball’ in the political soccer game.Clearly, the Commissioner and thedepartment could have used some positivenews.The statement: “We thought long andhard about how to communicate to ourown staff and the wider community aboutOperation Insight” elicits a wry grin, forfrom the evidence of the Commissioner’spress release on the day, neither seemscorrect. While it is true that “we had to leadthe issue ourselves” the lack of thought andvision was clear. This is evident from the‘opposing’ letters from members to PoliceNews and the opinions of members of thepublic in other forums.For example: “We have conducted acomplete internal analysis of the Policecomputer system, and I am pleased to say,not one of my staff is liable for anycriminal offence(s.) However, we havefound that some of the staff have someobjectionable or inappropriate contentmaterials/images in their Emails orcomputer ware, and although not an offencein itself, are not befitting a member of anyPolice Department this was expected in alarge organisation, given the diversenessof society, represented in our recruitment.These matters will be addressed in thecoming weeks.”Or, perhaps, as the case may be:“1, 2, or 150 staff members will be requiredto supply explanations for possessingspecific types of images. Given the natureof our work, it is likely that there may bevarious legitimate reasons for this, but aninvestigation has commenced to ensure thatthis is the case.”Perhaps a qualifying comment of:“The Police cannot actually access theInternet, in general, through our computersystem, so it seems clear that the imagesarrived from external sources.”Something similar to the above, or avariation of it would have sufficed.Clear, informative, and detailed withoutthe speculative abyss present in theCommissioner’s release.What we were left to face and answer dailywas the impression that we ‘surfed’ theInternet and the pornographic websiteswere our favourite pastime! Also, theincorrect impression was given that 300plus staff members were ‘criminals’ or ‘sexos’and/or likely, to be facing criminal charges.For what exactly? Possessing images thatare available to the public at large? Being a‘normal’ member of society?The objectivity and/or offensive aspectof any material, in our current climate,is a subjective argument. The countlesshorrendous images of homicide victims,scenes, dead mutilated children, traffic crashhuman carnage and the like, to which weare exposed through the Police computersystem in our line of work is traumatic,‘offensive’ to the senses, and certainlyobjectionable in some perspective.Yet, no thought is afforded this and weare expected to endure and tolerate itcontinuously! And we do.Included in this, is the pressure of theseemingly ‘never ending’ quantity of work,compounded by insufficient staff and preset‘targets’ to be reached or achieved withinpredetermined time frames.Through all this, we are also expectedto conduct ourselves to a high standardat all times, prepare documentation tothe required standards for our courtsand present ourselves professionally forexamination and scrutiny by the judiciary.Doesn’t anyone else see the contradictoryspectrum in which we are expected tooperate and still maintain our ‘normal’ self?Finally, there is an assertion that we are atfault for such images because we investigateand deal with victims of sexual crime.By that hypothesis, we should not be inpossession of images of traffic carnage,dead bodies, stolen property, illegal drugs,criminals, etc.I think a simple statement that the contentwas inappropriate would have been correctand sufficient.Martin Auvaa(Counties-Manukau)Destiny’s law andorder policiesYour last Police News outlined the law andorder policies from parties contesting thepending general election. Representing a newparty, I did not expect to rate a mention butas a former sworn member I hope to presentsomething of Destiny New Zealand to myformer colleagues by way of this letter.For the last two years I have been buildingour organisation to the point where we arestanding 42 candidates nationwide. We areone of only three parties contesting all sevenMaori electorates. Our policies are wideranging but our focus is the family.I am fully aware of the insurmountablechallenges officers are facing on thefrontline. Unlike current political parties,my knowledge is based on experience.I realise my scope here is limited, but Iwould like your readers to know whereDestiny New Zealand stands on law andorder. In brief, our aim is to (1) Increasepolice frontline staff with an immediateinjection of 550 new staff (With the 2010goal of 10,000) (2) Ensure Police havesufficient budget resource with flexibility toallocate that resource according to frontlinedemands (3) Pursue measures to recoverexperienced police officers in roles of seriouscrime investigation, response, training andmentoring, and (4) Pursue greater powersin dealing with juvenile offenders (Powers ofarrest and detention for investigative purposes).Destiny New Zealand has a dedicatedOrganised Crime Policy. We want aCommission of Enquiry launched to examineorganised crime with a view to establishing anational strategy to confront organised crimeand the drug trade epidemic head on.All of our policies are underpinned by ourdedicated Family Policy, which aims to protect,empower and prosper New Zealand families.Why? Because principles of justice and respectfor self, people and property, begin firstly inthe home. Full policies and candidates can beviewed on www.destinynz.org.nzRichard Lewis(Leader, Destiny New Zealand)CorrectionIn last month’s issue there was a letter underthe heading “Personal responsibility” writtenby Mark Brown. It was attributed to MarkBrown, who is involved with Road Policingin Orewa. This was not correct. The letterwas actually written by Mark Brown, whoalso works in Road Policing, but is based inTaranaki. Both officers also have the samesecond initial. My apologies to Mark Brownof Orewa for the error. Editor.180