Almost two weeks after New Zealand Police created a special task force following a spurt in incidences of aggravated robberies in recent months and the accompanying concerns and sense of fear in the community, Indian Weekender met with NZ Police’s Detective Inspector Fa'amanuia Va'aelua to know more about the mandate and objectives of this task force.
Operational structure of the task force
Contrary to public perception, the task force brings together specialists in solving the crime from three big districts in Auckland, Tamaki Makaurau, which are Waitemata, Auckland City and Counties Manukau under a single operational structure.
Inspector Va'aelua will be operating from his base in the Counties Manukau police station.
The first two weeks of this task force have been busy in embedding and formalising all processes required for efficient functioning.
"It is not straightforward in coordinating the staffs from three big districts. Therefore for the last two weeks, we have been working on formalising and streamlining the processes so that everybody in each district is doing the same thing and working on the same plan," Inspector Va'aelua said.
The staff engaged in this task force has years of experience in dealing with and solving complex cases of homicides, murders and other serious crimes.
In that sense, the constitution of this task force with specialists engaged in solving crimes that are considered more serious demonstrates the highest order of commitment from the New Zealand Police toward increasing incidences of aggravated robberies.
Operationally this task force is placed above the already existing special crime investigating team in individual districts.
Indian Weekender team was given a brief glimpse inside the highly restricted crime solving team's desks and informed that getting those talents and resources committed especially towards robberies would be an immense value in the battle against crime.
The operational guideline – removing bureaucratic hurdles
The special task force members, though stationed across different districts, will be operating under one common plan – the plan of crime prevention and enforcement.
"The [aim of] prevention will be achieved through the use of intelligence products.
"The goal of enforcement will involve identification, apprehension and prosecution of the offenders for robberies," Inspector Va'aelua said.
Alongside these operational guidelines, the major overarching goal of this task force is to offer reassurance to the communities, members of ethnic communities, retailers and small businesses.
Does it mean additional resources to help retailers and dairy owners?
The twenty-something staff dedicated around different police stations especially for the robberies is definitely a commitment of additional resources.
"For me, this commitment of 20 staff investigators is huge assistance toward the battle against these robberies," Inspector Va'aelua asserted.
"We have found that the offenders for these types of crime are very mobile. They can be offending in Counties Manukau then in Mt Roskill and then over in Waitakere
"So for us as Tamaki Makaurau Police, having a specially designated team and a formalised structure will be very helpful as everyone will know what needs to be done," Inspector Va'aelua further explained.
What is the main mandate – to solve the crime or to deter new offenders?
One of the main concerns in everyone’s minds in the communities, especially those working within retail and the small business environment, is about the main mandate of this task force.
Is it to solve the crime or to deter new offenders and incidences of robberies?
"To reduce the harm of the crime of robbery on our victims," was the passionate response of Inspector Va'aelua who refused to be caught in any debate around what was more urgent and required immediate attention.
"Reduce the harm of crime will cover all aspects of crime like apprehending all offenders, resolving all cases and preventing more victims," Inspector Va'aelua asserted.
Task Force is here to stay for a while
It was relieving to be told that this special task force was here to stay for a while until the incidents of robberies were to recede and there was some significant fall in the crime graph that had taken a northward push in recent times, particularly in South Auckland.
"This task force is here to stay for a little while now until there is a dramatic subsidence in the number of robberies in our communities," Inspector Va'aelua affirmed said.
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