National has announced it will put a dedicated team of police officers on trains and buses if it is re-elected to government in November.
National police spokesperson Mark Mitchell said the policy would establish a dedicated Auckland Transport Police Team.
It would mean a "visible police presence" on trains, buses and ferries, and at stations and transport hubs – focused on "high-risk routes" and peak hours.
A total of 50 new officers would be recruited, and police would receive an additional $7 million in funding through the 2027 budget.
“Every Aucklander should feel safe catching public transport, whether they're heading to work in the morning or travelling home late at night," Mitchell said.
“Police should be where people are. As more Aucklanders use public transport, it makes sense to have more Police on the network.
Mitchell said security measures needed to adapt to the network's growth, following the opening of the new City Rail Link.
He said the predicted increase in central city public transport users made the policy necessary.
“The City Rail Link will increase peak commuter capacity through the city centre by around 50%. That means more Aucklanders relying on public transport every day, and later services," Mitchell explained.
“Police should be where people are. As more Aucklanders use public transport, it makes sense to have more Police on the network."
Mitchell said the proposal aimed to deter crime and give passengers a sense of safety.
“Auckland Transport's staff already do important work keeping the network running safely, but they do not have the powers of sworn police officers,” Mitchell said.
“A visible police presence helps deter offending before it occurs, reassures passengers and transport staff, and ensures rapid intervention when something does go wrong.”
Auckland's City Rail Link opened to the public on Sunday morning.
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