David Miller was a police officer for over 28 years before he became the Dunedin Court manager.

Mr Miller held such ranks as Constable, dog handler, Sergeant, Senior Sergeant in a variety of positions, including time as the officer in charge at Mosgiel.

He was also in charge of the Armed Offenders Squad and his final role was as Inspector Operations Manager Southern Police District.

Mr Miller says his extensive police work allowed him to develop a strong working relationship with court stakeholders.

“That’s had a lot of benefits for me. I know so many people at the police station, police prosecutors and I didn’t have to build trust in my stakeholders and confidence.”

Profession’s response to Lower Stuart Street courthouse closure

Mr Miller says court disruptions and relocations after the Canterbury Quakes have been “a long slow process with frustrations along the way”, but that people have carried on regardless.

“People have just got on and done it, as it’s now being going on for over three years since the earthquake in Christchurch and this building [Lower Stuart Street] didn’t meet the new standards.

“Everyone wants to come back here and when the ministry said they were moving us up there [to High Street] they let the community know that they will come back here and that is the expectation.”

Court performance

“I think we’ve taken around 40% of the average amount of days for each case in the last couple of years,” Mr Miller says.

He attributes the court’s success to good staff and a profession which displays “the whole package”.