Canterbury Police will no longer proceed with a proposed review of the district’s structure, following extensive consultation with staff and the wider community.

In a statement released today, Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill confirmed the decision, saying a lack of community support was the key reason for halting the plan.

“Much of the feedback from staff and the community has been supportive,” said Superintendent Hill.

“However, the reality is that the proposal was not acceptable to many of the communities affected, and in my view their buy-in was a critical element in the proposal’s success. We could not proceed without that support.”

The now-shelved proposal aimed to enhance service delivery, including introducing a 24/7 police response model in rural areas. While elements of the plan were well received, concerns from rural communities in particular led to its withdrawal.

Hill said the review process was valuable, nonetheless.

“Throughout this process it has been important to challenge ourselves to think outside the square, and to innovate how we service the needs of our communities,” he said.

“Some of what we aimed to do can still be achieved without the wider restructure, and we will now work carefully through those options.”

He also acknowledged that some staff and members of the public would be disappointed by the decision.

The Commissioner of Police, Richard Chambers, expressed full support for Superintendent Hill’s decision and praised the efforts behind the review.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work that was put into the review by District Commander Tony Hill and his leadership team,” said Commissioner Chambers.

“While the review proposals had merit, including the proposed 24-7 response model, I have long believed in the value of visible and engaged police who know their communities and the people in them.”

Superintendent Hill reassured the public that operational priorities remain unchanged.

Key initiatives such as the Canterbury Gang Disruption Unit, Beat Teams, and the Retail Crime Team in Christchurch will still proceed as planned, as will the district’s focus on road policing, one of the highest-demand areas in the region.

He also took time to thank those who had engaged in the review process.

“This has been a long process and I want to thank all those who took time to consider the proposal and discuss it with me. It has been heartening to see the strong backing our staff working in the rural communities have from the public they serve,” he said.

Superintendent Hill affirmed that Canterbury Police remain committed to delivering effective and responsive policing across the district.