Many police stations in Auckland which appear closed to the public will still have officers working out of them, the Police Association says.
Labour MP and Auckland mayoral candidate, Phil Goff, understands that 16 stations will be closed temporarily as work is done to beef up reception security, but he's worried their doors will remain closed for good.
Police announced last week that 105 stations need a security upgrade, following an attack on a volunteer manning a public counter in south Auckland.
Police Minister Judith Collins and police have said the front counters at the stations are simply being redesigned for added staff safety and the offices will not be closed permanently.
Police Association acting president Craig Tickelpenny said it would take time to bring the stations up to a certain standard.
He said people would probably still be working inside but they would not have the front counters open to the general public.
Mr Goff said a station might still have officers in it, but the public would not be able to go there and see a "real person".
"I might be old fashioned but I think it's a great thing to have the police, with community outreach, hearing what's happening on the ground in the community and the public knowing that they can go to their local station and see a real person."
Mr Goff said police had already done a similar thing in the past, closing the Mt Roskill police station temporarily before closing it permanently 18 months later.
