WELLINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand police have allocated more officers to extend police capabilities and visibility to disrupt criminal activity and keep Kiwis safe.
An additional 70 officers will be allocated to the Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centers, according to the police on Thursday.
This brought the total dedicated beat officers to 160 following the deployment in July in the city centers of three major New Zealand cities, part of the commitment to an additional 500 frontline officers over the next two years, said Police Minister Mark Mitchell.
The minister highlighted the positive impact of having a higher police visibility in cities, saying the beat officers engaged with the public and retailers, and their presence discouraged crime.
Moreover, another 72 officers will be allocated to the frontline Gang Disruption Units in areas where gang activity is most prevalent, and an additional five staff are deployed to the National Gang Unit, Mitchell said. ■