Rural backlash over plan to cut police staffing

Green says the turnout of more than 500 people at the Culverden meeting alone should ring alarm bells for Canterbury Police District Commander Tony Hill.

Last week, Canterbury Police confirmed a proposal to reduce personnel at a number of rural police stations and disestablish roles in favour of larger 24/7 hubs based in Rolleston and Rangiora.

Hill told the meeting, held 6 August, that one of the reasons for the proposal - which would see the Arthur's pass station close - was a relatively low level of crime reported in the impacted areas.

Green says she disagrees with that statement.

"It was very clear last night from audience comments that it's all the preventative, behind-the-scenes work done by the officers who live and work in our communities that heads off so much offending," she says.

Green says that while that work may not be logged, it is "extremely effective".

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"Our local cops know every single detail about our community; they know the people, who their children are, who to contact if there's something amiss," she adds.

Green says police have offered assurances over new rural liaison officer roles and roading officers, however, she says those officers won't know all the crucial work local officers do.

"The rural people who spoke up last night with such passion made it very clear how vital they think that local police presence is for them."

Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean attended a second public meeting in Leeston, held last night.

He says the turnout of more than 50 residents was a clear signal of local concern given there had only been 48 hours' notice.

Dean says he credits Canterbury police leaders for fronting up, but says residents were critical that this was the first time they had been made aware of the proposed changes in a review process that started 18 months ago.

"I understand they’ve got to work things through with their staff affected, but when were local residents going to be clued in? It all seems to have been so hush-hush," Dean says.

"They said last night they were waiting for people to ask for meetings with them but if you don’t know a change is being considered, how do you know to ask for a meeting?" he adds.

Dean says there was also frustration over the lack of detail on the role of proposed new rural liaison officers (RLOs).

"It seemed they hadn’t decided the hours of these RLOs and the scope of their work, but we heard if there was a call-out, and they were closest, they’d still be activated," he says.

"So, what’s the difference between that and having the police staff we have at our local stations as now?"

Dean says that if Rolleston needs more police, then officer numbers should be boosted, but that can't happen at the expense of rural coverage.

"The likes of Lincoln and Leeston are growing towns as well. They deserve an increased police presence - not a lower one."

Police patrol cars driving through rural towns from time to time isn’t the same as having officers stationed there who know the community intimately, Dean says.

"Police assured us last night that these are only proposals and not final decisions, which might have settled the concerns of some people.

"But it certainly didn’t take away the angst of everyone in that room."