The Bluff Community Board is battling to retain its current staffing of three police officers in the town.
The board called a public meeting in the town last night and 200 people turned up to fight a proposal to reduce police numbers to one.
Board chairperson, Ray Fyfe, said the Southern Area Commander inspector Lane Todd who was there, received a firm message from the crowd.
Mr Fyfe said even though Bluff has only 1800 people, it still needs the police numbers that it has.
"We're an international sea port, we've got a very large fishing fleet, Stewart Island and we're a destination town as well"
"People may think it's a small town but where do you draw the line with policing? It's getting to the stage that you're a small town, so maybe you don't need a policeman at all."
Mr Fyfe said the proposal is still being considered.
