WELLINGTON, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The New Zealand government will invest 45 million NZ dollars (31.5 million U.S. dollars), one of the largest investments in frontline safety, to keep frontline police officers safe.
Police Minister, Poto Williams, said at the Royal New Zealand Police College today that, the investment includes new funding for a new tactical response model, the expansion of the frontline skills enhancement course, and an additional 78 constabulary staff and 28 intelligence analysts.
“Police are frontline workers who go above and beyond, to keep our communities safe. I want every single police officer to get home safely to their family, at the end of the day,” said Williams.
The immediate funding is to accelerate the police’s new tactical response model, that will increase the training and capability of frontline staff, she said.
“I want to be clear – the new Tactical Response Model is not Armed Response Teams. These officers will wear standard police uniforms, drive standard police vehicles, and will not be armed in their day-to-day duties. They will support frontline investigation and prevention teams, and will focus on high-risk offenders, firearms, methamphetamine, and organised crime groups,” said the minister.
“We can never eliminate the risk from policing. But this funding will go a long way to ensuring our officers are prepared and supported in their work,” Williams added.– NNN-AGENCIES
