Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The reopening of a custody unit on Auckland's North Shore will reduce the time frontline staff will spend transporting people in custody according to police.
The Waitematā East District Custody Unit will be used for operations across the North Shore and Rodney district.
The facility began accepting detainees on Tuesday morning with Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Minister of Police Mark Mitchell and Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan in attendance.
"Waitematā is a vast district geographically and it's important my staff aren't unnecessarily taken off the road for lengthy periods of time," Chambers said.
"The new District Custody Unit will mean reduced travel times for staff working as far north as Wellsford, down to Devonport."
"At the end of the day we'll have frontline staff back out there faster working to keep the community safe."
With high tech CCTV and intercom systems, the unit will reduce costs and processing times for officers.
"The facility is technologically advanced and future-focused for our custody staff," Chambers said.
"Our Custody Units are an important part of managing people in our care and custody safely.
"In many instances those people in custody require intensive monitoring, and features such as high-quality CCTV and intercom systems will help custody staff."
"It's great to see the use of technology to make savings and efficiencies, such as the high-quality audio-visual link suite installed.".
"In many instances for those detainees appearing in court remotely this will remove some costs and complexities associate in transporting them," he said.
The facility had been decommissioned in 2013 but has now re-opened to help police manage the more than 120,000 people put into custody each year throughout New Zealand.
"We are continuing to find ways to adapt to the growing demand and population across communities in Waitemata," Superintendent Hassan said.
"This facility will be supported by sworn police staff, alongside additional Authorised Officers recruited into the roles."
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