Police say they’re making good progress in finding a new building to permanently house the six Howick-based community officers.
The building currently serving as the Howick police station will close this Friday, February 11.
Its staff will work from the Counties Manukau East Police headquarters in Ormiston Road, Flat Bush, in the meantime while a new base in Howick is finalised.
Auckland Council is selling the property it owns at 34 Moore Street, which contains the portable building that serves as the Howick police station, accessed from Fencible Drive.
Council organisation Eke Panuku Development Auckland is managing the property’s sale.
Police previously said when the property is sold, the six Howick-based officers would from then on be based at the Ormiston Road station.
But police changed course late last year when Counties Manukau East Police area commander, inspector Scott Gemmell, publicly announced the six community officers would remain in Howick.
The move followed a vocal campaign by Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown and Botany MP and National Party leader Christopher Luxon to stop the property from being sold, or have it subdivided, so the community officers could stay in Howick.
About 200 concerned locals turned out to a public meeting held on the issue in Howick in May last year.
Gemmell now says good progress is being made in finding a new permanent location for the six Howick-based community officers.
“We are vacating our current Moore Street site on February 11 as Auckland Council needs to move through the sales process for the property,” he told the Times.
“We have viewed several locations within close proximity of the Moore Street site and we will provide further details as soon as we are in a position to do so.”
Gemmell says there will be a “short period” where the Howick-based staff will deploy to jobs from the Ormiston Road station while the new site is prepared.
“We will have a number of things to do before the staff can move into a new premises, which will include putting up adequate fencing and security measures, signage, and installing a front counter.
“While the staff will deploy from Ormiston station they will continue working in Howick and remain visible to the community.
“We look forward to providing a further update around our new site once negotiations are confirmed.
“Counties Manukau Police is committed to remaining in the Howick area and we thank the community for their patience while we transition into a new location.”
Brown and Luxon said in late 2021 they’re pleased police are actively looking for a new location in Howick village to serve as a base for the six community officers.
“Our local community constables do an excellent job supporting locals affected by crime, preventing crime from taking place and providing a strong local presence in our community,” they said.
“Having them based in Howick is critical to ensuring east Auckland residents not only are safe, but feel safe.”
