Goff lies over Police

Phil Goff claimed in the debate that a “reliable source” told him

Radio NZ reveals the true story:

Labour Party leader Phil Goff says senior police have been told recruitment for next year has been deferred and the January intake of recruits has been cancelled.

Mr Goff made the claim in TVNZ’s leaders’ debate on Wednesday night and told Morning Report on Thursday that the reason given for the deferral was the need to make savings in the police budget.

He says his source is reliable and well informed.

However, National’s law and order spokesperson Judith Collins says there are so few people leaving the police at the moment that the January intake of recruits is not needed.

She says the first intake next year will be in March instead.

Ms Collins says there will be no reduction in frontline police numbers under a National Government.

If Goff thought there really was a freeze, he would have done a press release stating so, rather than alleging something in a debate where he knows the PM would not know if it was correct or not (as an operational matter).

Here’s what Goff actually said:

Just been advised that you’re deferring all recruiting next year, but that this announcement must not be made until after the election”

Goff lied. There will be recruiting in March 2012. Labour’s campaign has been based on a series of lies and half-truths – on asset sales, on state houses, on welfare and now on the Police.

The attrition rate for the Police under National has been just 3.2% and under Labour was over 6%. So this is in fact a very good thing, as it is far better to retain experienced police officers than recruit as many new ones.

I wonder what other lies Labour will try in the final two days?