Nell Hendrix (Auckland City) said while it’s not reflected in official data, she and her colleagues were “grappling with significant vacancies” due to staff leaving for Australia. She said Avondale station lost an entire tactical crime unit last month and it was experienced staff – detectives and senior sergeants – who were crossing the ditch. Samantha Cates (Waitematā) agreed, saying less experienced officers were then left to fill the gaps.

Shannon Waters (Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty) said they were also “feeling the pinch” and a fair number were still thinking of making the move. Rob Sherborne (Kāpiti Mana) said he knew of two staff from the area who planned to join eight others already in Australia.

Meanwhile, Whakatāne was being actively targeted by Australian recruiters, William Searle (Eastern Bay of Plenty) said. A “significant number” had already left for Northern Territory, and Queensland Police had added the town to an upcoming recruitment drive. “Some thought Bay of Plenty was a tinpot area, but apparently we’re up there with all the big centres.”

Bernard O’Brien (Horowhenua) said ongoing retention issues meant officers only seven or eight months out of Police College were filling in as acting sergeants and were teamed up with guys who had less experience. The area was continually “operating below our optimal service numbers”, he said. “We're just constantly getting flogged.”

Mike Eckersley (Hutt) said Wainuiomata faced the same problem. The station had gone from three sergeants to one to cover a catchment of 20,000 residents that included generational gang families.
Brian Swann (Northland) said his area was consistently 35% below the critical staffing level. “Of all our night shifts last year, 50% were below our level.”

The battle continues

Many delegates revealed how far under resource allocation targets (RAT) stations were operating at. Catherine Jones (Gisborne) said the city was 37 under RAT and vacancies were being filled from within, compounding the dilemma: “We just keep on getting shorter and shorter.”

John Zulch said Counties Manukau was more than 80 under RAT, while Chris Gwilliam said Auckland City was 46 constabulary positions under RAT. “That equates to 8.2% of our positions. It’s a constant struggle.”

The reluctance of PST staff to move work groups and lose shift allowances was also making it difficult to fill vacancies.

Mike (Hutt) said no-one wanted a pay cut but something had to be done. “I don't know how we approach or repair that problem, but it is a huge problem.”

Shannon (Tauranga/Western BOP) highlighted issues around Police’s time off in lieu (TOIL) policy. She said managers were removing staff from courses and/or being on call for specialist spots if the staff member had more than 20 hours’ TOIL. Dave Burrows (Palmerston North) said some staff were reluctant to claim TOIL in fear of repercussions.

“[It feels like] the area leadership team and the command are effectively blaming staff for working overtime… None of our staff wants to work overtime,” he said.

John (Counties Manukau) said the uncertainly around leave restrictions and constantly operating below optimal staffing levels were leaving many feeling they “constantly have to fight just to get their leave approved”.

Sustained issues

Issues at hard-to-fill and rural stations were also raised. Andy Williamson (Canterbury Rural) and Ben Grant (South Canterbury) said their areas were “struggling to maintain numbers”, while Horowhenua had 18 vacancies out of its 85 roles. Morale had tanked. This was echoed by Blair Dalton (Otago Coastal) and Lisa Timpany (Southland), who said staff safety was constantly being put at risk.

“We have 18 staff covering close to 22,000 square kilometres,” Lisa said. “Travelling distances from headquarters to some stations is more than 120 kilometres. Not much fun when you're one-up waiting for assistance.”

Also front of mind for many delegates was the Financial Sustainability Programme (FSP) Workforce Project, which had left Police employees worried the 173 jobs already going could be the first wave of many. Andrew Gilbert (Wellington) said it had hit his district hard: “We have a lot of Police employees [and] we really feel for them.”

Jo Rusk (Police College) said it had been a stressful year and it was not helped by the protracted FSP process and then a short consultation period. Rose-Anna Carroll (PNHQ) said her committee had lost five people as a result of the restructure and staff were under considerable stress. 

Infrastructure reared its head again, with many delegates detailing the longstanding “decrepitude” of Police buildings. Some were working in horrendous conditions, including several leaky roofs, some for years, a “four-year” temporary fix that now leaks, or a newly replaced roof that has sprung holes. Meanwhile, toxic mould in some stations had made staff ill while others were working around condemned areas.

On a positive note, delegates said welfare grants and assistance had been well received over the past year, especially in Otago Coastal, Mid and Far North, Northland and Auckland.