Richard Chambers: new Police Commissioner outlines plans for New Zealand's front line

New Zealand's new Police Commissioner is keeping an open mind about arming front line staff. 

Deputy Commissioner Richard Chambers is replacing Andrew Coster - and has just returned from secondment with Interpol in France. 

He says he's worked with many jurisdictions over the years, and hopes New Zealand doesn't get the point of arming cops. 

But Chambers says policing is complex and volatile, and he'll do all he can to protect his staff. 

"I've got to keep an open mind -what do my staff need? What sort of support do they need? I think we need to get to that place as a country." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, good afternoon. We have a new police boss and
it's been confirmed that it is Richard Chambers. Now, Richard
Chambers has been long considered a front runner for the
top job. He has experience on the beat and is
apparently well regarded by the front line. He has just
come back from a stint with Interpol in France and
he's with us now. Richard, Hello and congratulations, Heather, Thank
you very very much. When do you actually start in

(00:21):
the job.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
My first day will be Monday and I'll be spending
that day all consitting district. And I'm absolutely decided because
that was the first district I worked in thirty years
ago when I joined the place.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
So are you doing a tour of the country, are you.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, I've got commitments all over the country, but it
turns out Monday's the first one. Yes, absolutely, I'll be
talking a lot. It's really important for me here that
I get out, we get alongside the frontline. Frontline is
the heart and soul of New Zealand Police and my
job is to support them. Oh.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
I tell you what I thought was interesting today was
it sounds like you are not keen on it, but
open to arming the front line. If needed, Is that right?

Speaker 2 (01:00):
I think we need to keep an open mind heavy
and the last year I've worked with police jurisdictions around
the world and I would like to think that eau
Zealand never gets into a place where that does occur.
You know, I don't see a place for it in
our country. However, I need to be open to the
fact that policing is complex, it's volatile, and I need

(01:20):
to listen to my staff in terms of what do
they feel they need to keep themselves safe. And also,
you know, just as that volatility continues to develop and
tension around the board to reality is you know, I've
got to keep an open minded to what do my
staff need, what sort of support do they need. Albeit,
I would like to think we never get to that
place as a country.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
I mean, don't you think we are going to, though, Richard,
Because it's a completely different place to when you started
back in the cops in nineteen ninety six, and when
we've got some pretty heavy gangs who love the guns
arriving here from Australia.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
At the moment, yes, absolutely, you know, the stuff I've
been exposed to in the last twelve months just demonstrates
the links that organized criminals will go to protect their
business models. I need to protect my stuff and I
will take into account whatever things I need to do
to ensure that, but also address the crime that we're
dealing with in our country.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
What do you mean when you say you've been exposed
to things in the last twelve months.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Well, I've seen the tension, the violence and the impact
of organized crime in the last twelve months working in
my role at Antipol, where I've led their global operations
that are focused on organized in a move in crime.
So it's been a huge help for me to understand
where the rest of the world is at and look,
if anything, that has absolutely strengthened my love for our

(02:39):
country and the work we do in New Zealand Police
because actually, whilst we have some challenges, we can be
really really proud of who we are and what we
do for our country.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Look, I know you probably don't want to dump on
your predecessor, and I'm not expecting you to, but should
we expect a different style from you?

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Very different style, Heather. You know, at the end of
the day, nearly thirty years into my police career, whilst
the neighbor of the Commissioner. I am still a police constable.
I am still a police officer. Never want to lose
sight of wayout You wanterback in nineteen ninety six and
it was to work on the frontline and enjoy every
moment of that. So yes, I will bring a different style.

(03:15):
I've I've mentioned this afternoon that obviously one of my
priorities to support the frontline, and that includes not only
issues around safety, but also their well being and that
they have the tools only to do this job. So
frontline is very, very important to me. Men and women
across the country are the heart and soul of police
and I will be valuing that throughout my time as commissioner.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
Richard best of Lacks. Nice to have you in the job.
That's Richard Chambers, incoming police commissioner starts on Monday.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
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