So, Andrew Coster has resigned as Police Commissioner and he's got himself a new job.

He's going to be running the Government's new Social Investment Agency - and I reckon he's going to be good at this.

I acknowledge this might not be a popular appointment, I think a lot of people will see this for what it probably is - which is that it feels an awful lot like a job that’s been given to him to get him to leave the police because the Government doesn't want him there.

It also reinforces the idea that there's a job merry-go-round in Wellington, which is obviously true.

Plus, there'll be questions about why you'd reward somebody for being pretty bad at their previous job, which Coster definitely was. He was a shocker of a Police Commissioner.

And all those of those criticisms - many of which are already in my inbox - are completely valid.

But setting all that aside, I still think he will be good at this job.

This is in his wheelhouse. Andrew Coster never was a crack down on crime guy, he's a cotton wool guy, a believer in people’s potential guy, a 'give them another chance' guy.

He believes so much in the fence at the top of the cliff that he forgot his job was to actually run the ambulance at the bottom.

But this job is fence at the top of the cliff stuff. The point of this agency is to help people before they become criminals and invest in them when they’re still babies.

That's right up Coster’s alley, isn't it?

For all of his failings as a Police Commissioner - his inability to be tough on gangs or clear out the Parliamentary protest before it got out of hand - he's actually a very bright and decent guy.

I think it was just a case of the wrong job for the wrong guy and I'm happy he's leaving the police.

I hope we never have another Commissioner as weak on crime as him, but I think he'll be very good at what he does next - and it is a very important job.

LISTEN ABOVE

So, Andrew Coster has resigned as Police Commissioner and he's got himself a new job.
He's going to be running the Government's new Social Investment Agency - and I reckon he's going to be good at this.
I acknowledge this might not be a popular appointment, I think a lot of people will see this for what it probably is - which is that it feels an awful lot like a job that’s been given to him to get him to leave the police because the Government doesn't want him there.
It also reinforces the idea that there's a job merry-go-round in Wellington, which is obviously true.
Plus, there'll be questions about why you'd reward somebody for being pretty bad at their previous job, which Coster definitely was. He was a shocker of a Police Commissioner.
And all those of those criticisms - many of which are already in my inbox - are completely valid.
But setting all that aside, I still think he will be good at this job.
This is in his wheelhouse. Andrew Coster never was a crack down on crime guy, he's a cotton wool guy, a believer in people’s potential guy, a 'give them another chance' guy.
He believes so much in the fence at the top of the cliff that he forgot his job was to actually run the ambulance at the bottom.
But this job is fence at the top of the cliff stuff. The point of this agency is to help people before they become criminals and invest in them when they’re still babies.
That's right up Coster’s alley, isn't it?
For all of his failings as a Police Commissioner - his inability to be tough on gangs or clear out the Parliamentary protest before it got out of hand - he's actually a very bright and decent guy.
I think it was just a case of the wrong job for the wrong guy and I'm happy he's leaving the police.
I hope we never have another Commissioner as weak on crime as him, but I think he'll be very good at what he does next - and it is a very important job.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: I hope our next Police Commissioner is tougher on crime

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/35c1b3cf-a8f3-4836-8514-b1f50061397c/transcript