'A huge difference to combat the methamphetamine scourge'

Police have outlined where they will be placing the 1800 additional officers around the country.

The extra police are part of the coalition agreement between New Zealand First and Labour.

The Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the 1800 officers would be placed in all 12 policing districts over the next few years.

He said 200 of those staff would have a specific focus on preventing crime related to gangs and drugs.

NZ First leader Winston Peters said New Zealand would turn its crime rate around by putting more money into prevention, which meant more police on the street.

"We all know that our largest population centres in the big cities have high needs for community safety and crime prevention.

"But I am particularly gratified that the smaller regions and provinces have been allocated significantly increased police resources.

"Some of our most neglected provincial areas are finally getting the attention and support they deserve."

There would be a "massive" 25 percent increase in police numbers in Northland, he said.

"[It] will make a huge difference to combat the methamphetamine scourge and improve safety in our communities.

Provincial towns throughout Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki Whanganui and Manawatu gain between 17 and 27 percent more staff.

Two-hundred-and-sixty-four new officers will be stationed in rural and urban towns throughout the South Island,'' Mr Peters said.

Police Minister Stuart Nash said the allocation plan announced today allowed police to reduce victimisation, lower offending and bring down imprisonment rates.

"To make a real difference we need to focus on crime prevention and community safety."

Allocation of the1800 new officers:

• Adding 455 officers to frontline emergency response teams.
• Prevention-focussed positions will get 325 more officers.
• Investigators, totalling 187 officers, focused on new and historic complex cases.
• Five-hundred national-level investigators and specialists to focus on organised crime.
• Fifty-four new district-based crime and drug prevention officers.
• Additional training personal in police colleges.