Counties Manukau East Police have kept their promise to open a new base for their six community officers in Howick.
Area commander, inspector Scott Gemmell, says police are pleased to confirm details about the new premises for the Howick-based officers, “seeing our longstanding presence in the community continue”.
Gemmell says a lease has been signed for a site in Howick which means the six local staff will soon be based at 76 Cook Street.
The property is within close proximity of the former Howick police station around Fencible Drive and Moore Street.
“Police have been working hard to finalise these new arrangements and confirming our new location demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the community,” Gemmell says.
“Our staff have been deploying from Ormiston station since we vacated the former site on Moore Street earlier this year.
“They have also continued to remain highly visible to the community in their duties over this period.”
Gemmell says the arrangement will continue in the interim while the new location is fitted out and the necessary arrangements are made so police can occupy the site.
Police will look to announce a move-in date for the Howick officers in due course, Gemmell says.
“We would like to thank our community in Howick for their ongoing patience throughout this transition period.”
Police were forced to move from the property that housed the small portable building used as the Howick station as Auckland Council owns the site and is in the process of selling it.
Counties Manukau East Police previously planned to have the six Howick-based community officers work from the Ormiston Road station permanently, but after pressure from the public and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown and Botany MP and National Party leader Christopher Luxon, reversed course.
Brown says he’s “incredibly pleased to hear police have signed a lease to reopen the Howick station”.
“This is a victory for the people of Howick, who were incredibly vocal in their support for retaining a local police station in Howick,” he told the Times.
“With increased crime and ram-raids in east Auckland in recent months it is critical our police are based in the community they serve so they are able to respond quickly and support our community.
“I am incredibly grateful to the police for listening to the Howick community and making this commitment to east Auckland.
“The NZ Police have a long and proud history of serving Howick and east Auckland and the community is incredibly grateful for all that they do in keeping us safe.”
