Mr. Drew Harris:

In the context of the outturn of the divisional policing model, I can give the Senator assurance in respect of the overall command team but part of the divisional policing model is the reduction in the number of divisions from 28 to 19. This will mean some amalgamations, but we will always seek to keep the command teams consistent and to retain them in place so that they develop a local understanding. One of the vagaries of our system of promoting officers to chief superintendent is that people are appointed from a merit-based list. In some cases they may have to travel great distances. In the long run it is more sustainable to deal with that quickly and to put in place a person who can make a longer-term commitment. We have had to grab that nettle twice but, having done that, I hope the current arrangement will be more static.