In 2016, Prevention First was still bedding in but, even then, the implications of moving staff into prevention roles at the expense of the frontline, and perhaps investigations, were emerging.

Police underestimated the effect of not dealing with crime as it occurred, not accepting that investigating and holding an offender to account were key to any prevention strategy. An underfunded and understaffed Police, to its detriment, also took on too many prevention roles that rightly belonged with other agencies.

Meanwhile, the public watched crime, especially youth crime, rise with no apparent accountability – especially so in the soaring rates of retail crime and the impunity so many offenders seemed to be operating under.

Added to this, gangs grew in numbers and in criminal enterprise. Aotearoa’s gang issue remains appalling, and Prevention First proved no match for it. Maybe the latest measures on gang insignia and intimidation will begin to erode the pull they have for young people.

And then came Covid. 

On March 25, 2020, New Zealand went into lockdown and the then-brand-new police commissioner’s term was undoubtedly hugely impacted, if not derailed, by the pandemic. Policing is challenging and high-risk at the best of times. Covid required officers to put their physical and mental health at risk to ensure communities were safe and prevent spread of the disease.

Tightened fiscal controls put paid to many of the commissioner’s initiatives and his difficulties communicating with staff left many on the frontline feeling neglected.

But not everything was turning to custard.

During this period, resources were directed to fighting organised crime resulting in significant progress in asset seizure and money laundering – areas key to undermining the “glamour” of such activities. There will always be a supply of drugs into markets such as Aotearoa, but if criminals don’t get to keep the bling they “earned” from importing and dealing, the incentive driving the risk fades.

Our current Government, with its very engaged minister and new commissioner, have the frontline directly in focus. Members are mostly on board, and the public welcomes proactive initiatives such as beat teams and retail crime teams.

New laws support these measures and, while I have questioned the reality of some such as citizens arrest powers, credit is due for initiative.

And so, to the future.

At an operational level, there are positives but the growing risks of rising attrition, planned retirement and declining recruitment calls for an aggressive response.

Most importantly, Police must address the outdated and unfair remuneration system. Without a doubt it impedes both recruitment and retention. We must be competitive. That necessitates the executive prioritising staff needs over the demands of Treasury and the Public Service Commission.

To date, the status quo has exacerbated the problem at the expense of attracting and retaining staff.