Cash-strapped police have been so desperate to get money to pay wages for their staff they had to go cap in hand to get money from the State Sector slush fund, says New Zealand First Police Spokesperson Ron Mark.

'Official information NZ First has obtained shows that in September 2013 and August 2015 police were scratching around to pay staff and had to apply to the Justice Sector Fund which declined their requests.

'From this, you can conclude police had to economise or make cuts elsewhere to ensure staff got paid.

'This is just another sign of how National has under-funded police and let things run down.

'Other unsuccessful police applications were made to the fund for such things as expanding electronic monitoring, establishing a gang intelligence centre in the battle against P and covering a money shortfall to implement the Criminal Procedure Act 2012.

'These are basic everyday policing tasks and having them declined is yet another sign of how patchy and inadequate policing is in New Zealand.

'Whatever National has given police in recent times has been too little, too late and it's taking too long.

'Police are still being pushed to the limit with limited resources.

'As an example of that, in Auckland we're seeing only one dog handler on duty to cover three police districts which is appalling,” says Mr Mark.

JUSTICE SECTOR FUND APPLICATIONS Between January 2012 to March 2017:

- There were 96 bids to the Justice Sector Fund (63 funded in full/part and 33 did not receive funding); and

- As at 30 March 2017 the balance of the JSF was $40,530,000.

Further breakdown of unsuccessful bids:

September 2012

1. SFO bid for financial crime prevention strategy for the Canterbury Earthquake Rebuild.
2. Police bid to expand the use of EM Bail.
3. Police bid for Christchurch temporary building.
4. Police bid to cover shortfall in ongoing funding to implement the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.
5. Police bid to manage cost pressures on EM Bail.

September 2013

1. Police bid for SupportLink Trial.
2. Police bid for alternative resolutions: enhanced model and alternative actions.
3. Police bid for crime and justice centre for evidence-based practice.
4. Corrections bid for enhanced extended supervision orders.
5. Corrections bid for electronic monitoring procurement.
6. Justice bid for improving the operation of domestic violence programmes.
7. Justice bid for people-centred support for users of the family justice system.
8. Justice bid for youth court education service.
9. Justice bid for Youth Crime Action Plan Innovation Fund.
10. Justice bid for justice sector innovation fund.
11. Justice bid for reducing crime through information and marketing.
12. Police bid for wage round cost pressures.

July 2014

1. Justice bid for judicial decisions online.
2. Justice bid for expansion of restorative justice services.

August 2015

1. Justice bid to secure drop box content sharing for sector agencies.
2. Justice bid for wrongly convicted compensation claims.
3. Justice bid for legal services commissioner's intended revision of criminal fee schedules.
4. Police bid for FY15/16 wages bid

March 2016

1. Police bid for Hawke's Bay alternative action initiative.

June 2016

1. Corrections bid for release packs.
2. Police bid for gang intelligence centre.
3. Corrections bid for tattoo removal.
4. Corrections bid for work and living skills; brief drink drive intervention.
5. Corrections/Police bid for alcohol interlock expansion.
6. Corrections bid for reconnect.
7. Corrections bid relating to working in prison.

January 2017

1. Police bid for wastewater analysis for illicit drug use.

Justice bid for mental health in criminal justice system