30 June 2006
Police Uncomfortable With Reduction In Recruiting Standards
"Police Officers are uncomfortable with the reduction in recruiting standards announced by Police today," NZ Police
Association President, Mr O'Connor said today.
"However the changes are dressed-up or rationalised, police officers know that they are being introduced, to try to
overcome the recruiting shortfalls in lieu of an adequate pay rise."
The public of New Zealand agree.
A June 2006 survey conducted by UMR Research, asked New Zealanders whether, overall, did they think it was better to
relax the recruitment standards to increase the number of people eligible to join the Police or to increase the pay of
police officers. 59% thought it better to pay police officers more, while only 28% thought relaxing recruitment
standards better and 13% were unsure. (UMR survey results on attached page.)
"Our role and goal as an Association, is to get the right number, of the right people into Police and most importantly,
retain them. Paying decent salaries, not reducing recruiting standards is the key to this," Mr O'Connor said.
ENDS