Public Views Sought On Police Governance And Accountability
New Zealand Police National News Release 4:25pm
8 August 2006
A discussion document on Police governance and accountability has been released for public comment as part of the
ongoing review of the 1958 Police Act.
"The document is the second in a series of papers to test the waters and encourage views on some of the important issues
at the heart of New Zealand policing," says Superintendent Hamish McCardle, the officer leading the review of the Police
Act.
Issues Paper 2: Governance and Accountability explores the following ideas:
Clearly positioning Police
Current legislation does not specifically address the basic constitutional position of New Zealand Police. The way
Police is set up and governed is not spelt out clearly in statute. Do these key details need to be more overt in new
legislation?
What's in a name?
What should New Zealand's policing organisation be called? Should it remain New Zealand Police, or could it change to
reflect other aspects of policing such as the New Zealand Police Force or New Zealand Police Service?
Police independence
The concept of constabulary independence helps define the boundaries between Police and government. Essentially,
constabulary independence is about day-to-day operational policing being free from political intervention. How could
these Police/government boundaries be best defined while retaining the independent office of constable, and how could
they be included in new legislation?
Providing for leadership
How should new police legislation reflect the details around appointment, tenure, pay, conditions and performance review
for the most senior Police? For example, should there be pre-requisites to holding the top jobs in Police, such as prior
policing experience?
Responses to Issues Paper 2 are sought by 15 September 2006. Copies of the full document can be downloaded from the
'Consultation' section of the Police Act website www.policeact.govt.nz Printed copies are also available on request from
the Police Act Review Team, c/- Police National Headquarters, PO Box 3017, Wellington.
ENDS