Headline: Dunedin to lose experienced officers
Dunedin looks set to lose a number of experienced senior police officers as a result of Government cost-cutting, Labour’s Police spokesperson Kris Faafoi said today.
“Police are being put under enormous pressure because of the government’s budget demands.
“We’ve already seen stations closed, numerous small towns losing their local cops and dozens of non-sworn support staff lose their jobs.
“Now, under the guise of ‘centralisation’ we hear a number of frontline senior sergeant positions in Dunedin are being disestablished.
“With none of the latest police college graduates being posted to the South Island it’s unlikely they will be replaced, even by junior officers.
“While Police Minister Anne Tolley continues to deny there have been any budget cuts, her own figures and the reality on the ground tell another story. Dunedin is being forced to bear the brunt of that on the frontline,” Kris Faafoi said.
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