Now *this* is f'n stupid

**RantyDave** · 16th May 2006, 17:45

Find everyone in the government and fire the lot.

http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3669784a10,00.html

Annette King reckons $500M for 1000 new cops. Half a million dollars each? How about we take out a full page advert in each of tomorrow's papers advertising $250k signup fee to become a policeman, then do nothing else. Problem solved and you've just saved the country a quarter billion dollars.

Stupid trollop. No wonder my taxes are so high.

Oh! I nearly missed a good bit:

"Of the new funding, $33.9m was coming from the National Land Transport Fund, which the Government uses to pay for roads. This money would be specifically dedicated to road policing, Ms King said."

So, now new roads, but you will get more speeding tickets on the existing ones. On the plus side that's 'only' 68 more traffic police.

Dave

**Madness** · 16th May 2006, 17:50

On the upside, maybe burglaries will be attended within 48 hours from time of reporting, that's if the quota's have been filled of course.

**sAsLEX** · 16th May 2006, 17:55

training costs maybe, infrastructure to support them more training staff?!?

I know my training costs are over $1 million after I have finished the 6 years training I do before starting my job.

**Lazy7** · 16th May 2006, 18:42

i'm all for more cops - but i cant believe that it costs $500,000 per cop to go from new recruit to on the beat officer.

is it a projected cost for 5-7 years or something???

**Switch** · 16th May 2006, 19:07

If Uni doesn't work out becoming a cop will be my second option. But by then they would have already recruited them all :slap: possibly make it harder for me to get in.

**madboy** · 16th May 2006, 19:14

For that sorta cash, count me in. What's the number again? 0800 NEWCOPS. But can I get something other than a Holden for a company car thanks?

**Colapop** · 16th May 2006, 19:16

How many times have we been told "More new cops"? The reasons for the existing officers leaving the force need to be addressed. They constantly talk about how much more money they're going to pour into the Police force. How much of that goes into retaining and equipping the currently employed officers.

**sAsLEX** · 16th May 2006, 19:22

Originally Posted by Colapop

How much of that goes into retaining and equipping the currently employed officers.

None as a cop you buy all your own gear! From your boots up!

**Colapop** · 16th May 2006, 19:27

Exactly. "Come and be a police officer - leave your credit card details at the door"
Our gubermint should be concerning theselves with the fact that it costs less to retain staff than to train new ones.

**madboy** · 16th May 2006, 19:29

Maybe if they DID pay for the essentials there might be a few more cops staying!

Cops are leaving for lots of reasons, but one I think is the gradual erosion of their ability to have free thought. Nobody likes working in a job where you are a drone. If Cop A turns up to Event 1D he must take abide by Internal Policy A1.3 v1 that stipulates if Person 1 has taken action described as [insert bollocks here] then Cop A MUST do bla. Instead of Cop A turning up to Event 1D and using his brain and discretion to take whatever action he/she sees fit.

Cops are losing what little powers of discretion they have left, unless they want to openly disregard their superiors. And nobody who wants to keep their job [let's remember kiddies, it's only their job] will go against the boss if they have any sense of career.

**RantyDave** · 16th May 2006, 20:10

Originally Posted by Colapop

The reasons for the existing officers leaving the force need to be addressed.

At half a million bucks a pop, you're damn right. Not to mention that the half mill presumably gets you a newbie cop of some description. Hrrmmhphpph. Back to being a grumpy old man

Dave

**Hitcher** · 16th May 2006, 20:14

Originally Posted by madboy

But can I get something other than a Holden for a company car thanks?

Get posted to Twizel and you get a choice of a Legacy GT-B (in HP colours) or a Holden Rodeo.

**sAsLEX** · 16th May 2006, 20:43

Originally Posted by madboy

Maybe if they DID pay for the essentials there might be a few more cops staying!

They do. MAybe you wouldn't meet the criteria of being able to read!

**R6_kid:Me** · 16th May 2006, 22:13

Cost for training a pilot through flying school = approx $70,000
Cost to train pilot in Air Force = $1.2 million

Unfortunately, it does cost a lot, but in general they are trained to a very high level (compared to say a security guard i suppose). But that money for roads going towards policing... WTF. That could get us a nice new race track and help to stop us from speeding on the roads.

**Lou Girardin** · 17th May 2006, 09:21

At the current staff loss rates, they will have to recruit 2,500 new cops each year to have an extra 1000 in 3 years time. THAT's what's going to suck up a lot of the 1/2 billion.
But they'll earn it back.
Just don't expect crime to drop.