Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman

7 April 2006

One third of overseas police recruits leave

Something is wrong with New Zealand's police recruitment methods when more than one third of officers hired from the United Kingdom in 2003 have left after only two years, says National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.

"We are either recruiting the wrong people, overselling the type of work they are to do, or they are leaving because this Government has let public confidence in the Police sink to rock-bottom.

"Whatever the reason, it would seem that recruiting police from overseas may not be the panacea we have been led to believe, and that means we could have even more trouble recruiting 1,000 extra police over the next three years.

"The Police say 97 officers from the United Kingdom started on 2 April and that a further 60 have been tested and interviewed and will be offered positions over the next 12 months.

"They will be welcomed, but if the rate of attrition from the 2003 intake is any indication, there will be only about 100 of those 157 left in a couple of years.

"Police Minister Annette King should be having a careful look at what is happening and sort it out. This has to happen before we can say with any confidence that there is any chance of getting the extra police we need," says Mr Power.

"Let's make sure the conditions of work are made clear to them so they can be real assets to our police."

ENDS

© Scoop Media