The proposed changes are outlined in a 54-page report distributed to 280 police staff in the Dunedin police area yesterday.
The changes include axing one constable position from each of the Port Chalmers and Green Island stations, taking them down to sole-charge stations, moving all general duties staff from Dunedin North and Dunedin South stations to Dunedin Central station and altering general duties staff rosters.
Three new proactive policing teams (PPTs), of six staff, would be established and based in each of the Dunedin North, South and Central stations.
The document was not released publicly and staff said they were instructed not to discuss it with media.
Southern police district commander Superintendent Bob Burns yesterday said Dunedin's crime rate had not been reduced for 10 years and something had to be done to get it down.
The proposed changes took into account workloads and how resources could be better used to achieve the new police focus on stopping rising crime trends in their tracks and targeting key crime problems, rather than just responding to them.
"This is not about reducing the police service in an area. It's about better use of resources."
Having multiple officers stationed where there was little work, and even less during the hours they were on duty, was not cost-effective and could almost be regarded as mismanagement of taxpayer resources, he said.
The review, for example, found that in the year to June 30, 61.5% of all calls to Port Chalmers were attended by staff from other stations, and Port Chalmers staff attended only six priority 1 - the most urgent - calls.
In the same year, Green Island staff were assigned only 4% of the total priority 1 calls in their area.
"If there are places where the taxpayer is paying a lot of money for something that is not providing a great deal of results, then we have seriously got to have a look at those places.
"And, clearly, with those kind of results, either the work is not there, which it probably isn't, or it could be covered more adequately from a response unit from [Dunedin], while still maintaining that visibility and confidence the community has in those policemen there."
He expected there would be a public reaction to the proposals. He had already been contacted by concerned members of the public and confirmed police would meet concerned local community members and boards to discuss the review.
"But what I would say is that the stuff we are talking about is factual and based on good business models. It should be based on what's best for the Dunedin and Clutha area, not emotive stuff that is not based on the facts."
Chalmers Community Board chairwoman Jan Tucker said any reduction in police was a step backward.
That was also the feeling from the community, some of whom had already written to Police Minister Judith Collins with their concerns, she said.
Deputy chairman Steve Walker said the proposal would be discussed at the board's first meeting on November 24.
There were many concerns among the communities the station served.
"Many people out this way have had to suffer long wait times if police are called out from central Dunedin. Without a proper presence at the Port [Chalmers] station, what is the response time if there is an emergency in Long Beach, Purakaunui or Aramoana?"
Supt Burns said no stations would be closed.
The aim of the review was to make police more visible. At present, the times when police officers were visible in those areas was not when the crime was happening.
Green Island-Saddle Hill ward city councillor Colin Weatherall said the Green Island community's greatest concern was losing the "face of police" in the area and their local knowledge.
He said he and the business community of Green Island looked forward to meeting police so they could explain their rationale and the community could put its case for keeping two officers.
That arrangement had been "very positive and highly successful" for Green Island for many years.
Supt Burns said most of the staff moved from outlying stations to Dunedin Central station would be in jobs in the same area they were already in.
The proposal also included changes to internal arrangements within many police units, to bring them into line with the new focus on "proactive" policing, he said.
An extra general duties team would be created, with more teams working during weekends, when most criminal activity occurred.
Staff would work a six-week roster as opposed to five, meaning they would have fewer night shifts, but also fewer weekends off.
Senior sergeants would work a different roster and would have overall responsibility for all staff working on their shift, including CIB, traffic and community staff.
Supt Burns said he recognised change was often uncomfortable, but the proposed changes would give staff more flexibility and capability.
Police Association representative Detective Sergeant Brett Roberts said staff received the large document only yesterday and had not had time to process it.
He declined to comment on the general feeling among staff about the changes, but expected there would be "quite a number" of submissions both for and against the proposed changes.
MAIN PROPOSALS
• Port Chalmers and Green Island go from two-person to sole-charge stations; staff rostered on day shift weekdays; areas covered by Dunedin Central staff at night and weekends. At present, two staff work day shifts on weekdays and alternate day shifts on weekends.
• Fifteen general duties staff at each of Dunedin North and Dunedin South stations relocated to new jobs at Dunedin Central.
• Three proactive policing teams (PPTs) of a sergeant, detective and four constables to be established.
• A sixth general duties section (sergeant and nine constables) to be added to roster.
• Five-week roster changed to a six-week roster; staff will have two weekends off in six instead of two in five, but work fewer night shifts.
• Extra duties for general duties senior sergeants.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
• November 1: Staff submissions on proposal open.
• November 26: Submissions close.
• Early 2011: New structure finalised.
• Mid 2011: All affected staff in new positions.
