Andrew Dickens: Cops on the beat is a no-brainer

Cops will stay on the beat in the Auckland CBD.  The government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund.  The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 enables New Zealand Police to seize money and assets that have been obtained directly or indirectly from the proceeds of crime. Once all legal matters are addressed, the recovered money is placed in the Proceeds of Crime Fund. This latest move was announced by Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee an it's been greeted wholeheartedly by retailers and residents It will see the new federal street station open 24/7.  That station will open in the middle of the year. And of course, this is a good thing. My question was always why did we stop doing this in the first place? The cop on the beat is a sign to one and all, citizens and criminals, that the police are in control of the streets, not the ratbags. For me, it's the first thing the police would fund not the last. And that perception that it's important has been reinforced by the new funding coming from the Proceeds of Crime Fund and not the general budget. My question is who thought no cops on the beat was a good idea in the first place? It's tempting to blame Andrew Coster and the last government who were soft on crime. But it' been going on far longer than that. It's another example of public service being told to cut budgets and then cutting good stuff instead of bad. And another thing about the funding. This is not just a problem for the Auckland CBD.  It's nationwide in cities and towns and suburban shopping centres.  What about them?  We'll wait to see if the budget shows a changed emphasis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.