14 Feb 2013

Police 'acting on drink-drive report'

10:51 am on 14 February 2013

Police National Headquarters says it is already acting on an official report recommending it do better at assessing how well officers enforce drink-drive laws.

Deputy Auditor-General Phillippa Smith.

Deputy Auditor-General Phillippa Smith. Photo: OFFICE OF AUDITOR-GENERAL

The Office of the Auditor-General had hoped to examine the effectiveness of breath-testing by police as a gauge of how well they enforce drink-driving laws.

But Deputy Auditor-General Phillippa Smith said she could not form a view because the force's information is inadequate.

She is recommending the introduction of a clear set of national indicators to effectively measure how the drink-driving laws are being policed.

Ms Smith also wants the results made public in a way that clearly shows how effective and efficient the police are over time.

Assistant police commissioner Dave Cliff said police have already identified some of the issues highlighted, and have begun making improvements.