Ryan Bridge: Our new hope, wait, and see approach to policing in NZ

We've just adopted a hope, wait, and see approach to policing in this country. 

This at a time when crime is out of control, people don't feel safe in their own homes and on city streets. 150-thousand retail crimes were reported last year. 

Despite their best efforts, our cops are struggling to keep up and they've just been delivered a slap in the face by the government. 

The Police Association has lost its final-offer arbitration over pay increases, meaning the government won. 

Chris Cahill says he can now only "hope" that officers won't move to Aussie en masse, where pay is way higher and conditions much better. 

On the face of it, the offer actually looks pretty good. 

Along with a lump sum and overtime being paid —not to be scoffed at— the increases are actually 4% from July 1, back dated, and a further 4% from 2025. 

If we believe Adrian Orr and Co's predictions about inflation hitting the target 1-3% later this year, then the increase will actually beat inflation. 

Sounds alright, right? 

Not when you consider the crap sandwich they've been dealt the past few years. 

Under Labour inflation was as out of control, as was crime, running at 6-7%. 

During that time their annual pay increased only 3.5%. 

The Police Union says it basically had to suck it up and take the deal because if they went for more it might mean job cuts. 

So do we want fewer, higher paid cops or more lower paid cops? 

The reality is we might get the worst of both worlds if they up sticks and cross the ditch, we would have fewer police, and the rest would be feeling underpaid and overworked. 

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