There was a common theme as our chairs reviewed the past year at the Police Association area committee annual meetings from May 31 to June 30, with many asking where the extra 1800 police officers were.

This column is written by a frontline police member. It does not represent the views or policies of the Police Association.

Paddy O’Brien blew the final whistle on his police career in 1995 but, nearly 30 years later, he is back at Police College.

I have spent the past month attending committee annual meetings throughout Aotearoa. These are extremely important components of the association’s operation giving me insight into the great work members are doing, but also your frustrations in relation to delivering policing to New Zealanders.

Police reflects on the progress of Operation Cobalt one year into its campaign to stamp out gang lawlessness.

Bruce Malcolm Lamb September 15, 1959 — May 23, 2023