Press Release – New Zealand Police Superintendent Scott Fraser (right) with Taranaki Area Commander Inspector Belinda Dewar Superintendent Scott Fraser was welcomed into his new position as Central District Commander with a pwhiri at the Te Rangimarie Marae in Rangiotu on Wednesday. He …
Superintendent Scott Fraser (right) with Taranaki Area Commander Inspector Belinda Dewar
Superintendent Scott Fraser was welcomed into his new position as Central District Commander with a pöwhiri at the Te Rangimarie Marae in Rangiotu on Wednesday.
He takes over from Chris de Wattignar, who is now Iwi and Communities Assistant Commissioner and was at today’s celebration, along with Assistant Commissioner-Investigations Sue Schwalger, Assistant Commissioner-Districts Sandra Venables, Central District Police staff and executive, iwi, community leaders, whānau and friends.
Thursday, 6 May 2021, 5:10 am
Superintendent
Scott Fraser (right) with Taranaki Area Commander Inspector
Belinda Dewar
Superintendent Scott
Fraser was welcomed into his new position as Central
District Commander with a pöwhiri at the Te Rangimarie
Marae in Rangiotu on Wednesday.
He takes over from
Chris de Wattignar, who is now Iwi and Communities Assistant
Commissioner and was at today’s celebration, along with
Assistant Commissioner-Investigations Sue Schwalger,
Assistant Commissioner-Districts Sandra Venables, Central
District Police staff and executive, iwi, community leaders,
whānau and friends.
Superintendent Scott Fraser told
today’s gathering in the Manawatū that he’s looking
forward to working with the diverse communities across the
Between 2009 and 2018, 67 people died during police pursuits and, in a six-year period, police had to spend about $4.5 million repairing police cars – mostly because of police pursuits. The figure did include the cost of vehicle write-offs. Staff raised concerns about the resourcing required to investigate fleeing drivers, but police bosses noted they already had to commit significant resources when someone was injured or killed during a pursuit. Police also tried to downplay the significance of the change, describing it as a “slight rewording”. Seventy per cent of fleeing drivers between 2015 and 2019 were caught – 40 per cent at the end of a pursuit, and 30 per cent were identified and found later.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The rethink means officers are only able to start a chase if the need to catch the driver or passengers outweighs the risk or harm created by the pursuit.
It followed a joint review with the Independent Police Conduct Authority last year, which found that while the policy was sound, it wasn t being used consistently or as it should be. This is just about tweaking and ensuring a consistent approach across the country, said Assistant Commissioner, Sandra Venables. So we have always said that we prefer our officers to undertake enquiries or investigations rather than pursue a fleeing driver