U-TURN OVER LOCAL DARE EDUCATORS

Public pressure has forced police hierarchy to back down from plans to scrap
one of Ashburton's youth education officers.

Area commander of Timaru, Inspector Dave Gaskin, this morning confirmed
Ashburton would retain both its youth education (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) officers, despite an initial proposal that one of the positions
would be lost.

The proposal was made after Ashburton was moved under the jurisdiction of
Timaru last month. An eight-page document detailing proposed changes was
released soon after the amalgamation, with a major focus of the review on
cutting Ashburton's DARE educators from two to one, with the unsuccessful
applicant moving into general duties.

The document also stated that Ashburton would lose its licensing portfolio
and that the watchhouse keeper role would be disestablished in favour of a
field intelligence officer - a role expected to focus on intelligence
gathering and collating information.

But after calling for submissions from the community in relation to the
proposal, Mr Gaskin said the changes would not be implemented as originally
planned.

He said Ashburton's two youth education officers would now remain in their
positions, however they would be expected to also administer programmes
outside the "old Ashburton District" as part of their role.

He said Ashburton would retain its licensing portfolio which, although
overseen by a senior sergeant from Timaru to ensure all campaigns and
strategies were "standard across the board", would remain the same as old.

Mr Gaskin said the watchhouse keeper role would be slightly revamped into a
community constable/field intelligence officer position, however the only
real change to Ashburton would be the loss of a general duties constable to
Christchurch.

"It (the proposal) created discussion and indicated what people wanted to do
which was what it was all about. There's got to be give and take and I hope
staff and the public will now see we've done the best we can," he said.

The proposal to cut one youth education officer from Timaru will still go
ahead however, Mr Gaskin said, with "a number of other roles also to be
reorganised".

While Ashburton senior sergeant Arnold Kelly today declined to make any
comment on the matter, chairman of the DARE support committee, and principal
of Hampstead School, Peter Melrose said the news was "the best outcome we
could have hoped for".

"I think it's a real affirmation of the support the community has shown for
local police and DARE programmes," he said.

Mr Melrose said the community needed to be congratulated for "making a stand
and speaking up for what they believe in".

Mr Gaskin said he expected the changes to come into effect early in the New
Year.