Police commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Police commissioner Richard Chambers says the proposal to scrap an executive role focusing on iwi and communities is not diminishing its importance.
The proposal sent to police staff on Tuesday includes disestablishing 37 executive and support service positions, as well as creating 20 new positions - a net reduction of 17 roles.
There will be fewer deputy chief executives, with one proposal being to disestablish the iwi and communies role.
[audio ] https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018972543/police-commissioner-proposes-cutting-number-of-executive-roles
Police will still focus on iwi and communities, and the functions would be put into other senior roles in the executive, Chambers told Morning Report.
"I want to invest in particularly in our sworn Māori male and female leaders of the future and there are ways that we can do that.
"I'm not diminishing the importance of that role at all. What I'm looking to do is to build that up from a grassroots level.
"More importantly, have an assistant commissioner iwi and communities in place. We have people within the iwi and communities team, not just here in Wellington but across the country.
"I want to focus on building that capability and in particular our police officers, men and woman, who are Māori, Pacific and ethnic - that is what my focus will be, rather than investing in the top layers of the organisation."
"It was "absolutely not" a response to the coalition government's Treaty Principles Bill.
Chambers said a leaner executive would result in savings to invest in frontline policing.
The proposal was sent to to affected staff on Tuesday, and feedback is open until 10 February ahead of a decision later in the month.
Chambers said he had had positive feedback. "Of course there is always going to be a mix of feedback and we invite some other suggestions before some final decisions are made but overall the vast majority of the feedback that I've had ... at a lot of different levels has been very positive," he said on Tuesday.
Police Association president Chris Cahill said the proposed cuts would have wide ranging implications "which directly affect a number of staff"..
"This will be a very stressful time for them and we will be available to assist members who wish to make their own submission," Cahill said.
"The association will consult with affected members before we form an opinion on the merits of the proposed changes." It would make a submission in response to the changes.
A police officer with 20 years experience - who did not want to be named - said he felt the majority of frontline staff would welcome Chambers' proposal.
The officer said he had limited experience with what happens at police national headquarters but he felt the number of executive staff, and even senior sergeants and inspectors, had seemed to steadily grow over his years in police.
"I think most cops working on the front line would welcome anything that would refocus resources into the front line."
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