A North Canterbury farmer has raised concerns about police staffing in Amberley, questioning whether frontline numbers are being quietly reduced following an officer’s departure from the local station.

Andrew Mason told chrislynchmedia.com the lack of a permanent replacement five months after an officer left the Amberley police station raised questions about whether rural policing changes were being introduced informally.

The concern comes months after Canterbury police proposed cutting roles at smaller rural stations and creating 24 hour hubs in larger centres such as Rangiora and Rolleston.

The plan sparked a backlash from rural communities, with residents attending public meetings and more than 1000 submissions lodged during consultation.

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill later confirmed police would not proceed with closing the stations.

Mason said he believed Amberley’s police presence had effectively been reduced after the officer left.

“This is restructuring by stealth,” Mason said.

He said the departing officer was initially replaced by a reliever but that officer later moved on and no permanent replacement had yet been appointed.

Mason said rural communities relied on local officers who knew the area and were close by in an emergency.

“Rural cops, they’re a victim of their own success. They keep a lid on crime because they know the people in the community, and they’re onto things before it happens.”

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said “There has been no reduction in the number of police in Amberley.

“There are three positions there, one of those positions is currently being filled by staff undertaking periods of secondment and will likely be permanently filled in due course,” Hill said.

“It is very common in police for staff to act in various roles, either to backfill during a recruitment process or as a development opportunity.”

“Police remain committed to maintaining the current staffing levels in North Canterbury.”