| New Zealand Police Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa (Māori) | |
|---|---|
 NZP Logo | |
 NZP Constable Badge | |
 Flag of the New Zealand Police | |
| Abbreviation | NZP |
| Motto | Safer Communities Together |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1886[n 1] |
| Preceding agency |
|
| Employees | 15,700 (30 June 2024)[2] |
| Annual budget | $2.72 billionNZD Total budget for 2023/2024[2] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | New Zealand |
| Operations jurisdiction | New Zealand |
| Governing body | New Zealand Government |
| Constituting instrument | |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Overseen by | Independent Police Conduct Authority |
| Headquarters | 180Molesworth Street, Wellington 6011 |
| 41°16′24″S174°46′42″E / 41.2734°S 174.7782°E /-41.2734; 174.7782 | |
| Sworn officers | 10,139[3] |
| Non-sworn members | 4,658[4] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Services | 31
|
| Districts | 12
|
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 324 |
| Vehicles | 3,700 |
| Specialist vehicles | 555 |
| Boats | 2 |
| Helicopters | 3 |
| Website | |
www | |
TheNew Zealand Police (Māori:Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa)[n 2] is the nationalpolice service and principallaw enforcement agency of New Zealand, responsible for preventing crime, enhancing public safety, bringing offenders to justice, and maintainingpublic order. With over 15,000 personnel,[6] it is the largest law enforcement agency in New Zealand and, with few exceptions, has primary jurisdiction over the majority of New Zealandcriminal law. The New Zealand Police also has responsibility for traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement as well as other key responsibilities includingprotection of dignitaries, firearms licensing, and matters ofnational security.
Policing in New Zealand was introduced in 1840, modelled on similarconstabularies that existed in Britain at that time. The constabulary was initially part police and partmilitia. By the end of the 19th centurypolicing by consent was the goal and since the change the New Zealand Police has generally enjoyed a reputation for mild policing, but there have been cases when the use of force was criticised, such as during the1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States. New Zealand is one of only 19 countries with a 'generally unarmed' police service. While New Zealand Police officers don't routinely carry firearms, they do have access to firearms in their vehicles.[7]
The current minister of police isMark Mitchell. While the New Zealand Police is a government department with aminister responsible for it, thecommissioner and sworn members swear allegiance directly to thesovereign and, by convention, have constabulary independence from the government of the day.
The New Zealand Police is perceived to have a minimal level of institutionalcorruption, though it has been involved in a variety of controversies over it's long history.[8][9]
Prior toBritish colonization, law in New Zealand was based onTikanga Māori and enforced by localIwi leaders through formal assemblies calledrūnanga, with enforcement action carried out by selected warriors or expert practitioners calledtohunga.[1][10]
The first formal policing service in New Zealand started in 1840 with the arrival of six constables of theNew South Wales mounted police accompanying Lieutenant GovernorWilliam Hobson's official landing party to form the colony of New Zealand.[1][11] Governor Hobson empowered PoliceMagistrates to appoint constables to enforce British laws within the early settlements.[12]
The early 1800s saw increased scrutiny of policing practices throughout the British Empire,[13] inspired in particular by theMetropolitan Police Act 1829 which had introducedpolicing by consent.[1] Despite these reforms, policing incolonial New Zealand continued to operate by force, especially towardsMāori people.[14] Supplemented by a small number of British soldiers, the Colonial Police played a significant role in extending British control beyond the first settlements.[14]
Under governorGeorge Grey, the colonial police forces were replaced by the Armed Police Force (APF) in 1846, under theConstabulary Act 1846.[15] The subsequentArmed Constabulary Act 1867 focused the force on dealing with unrest between the indigenous Māori and the encroaching European settlers and the force grew to 200 musket-trained men.[16] The armed constabulary took part in military actions against Māori opponentsRiwha Tītokowaru in Taranaki andTe Kooti in the central North Island in the final stages of theNew Zealand Wars.[17]
TheProvinces of New Zealand Act 1875 abolished the earlyprovinces of New Zealand,[18] and as a result, the AFP merged with the assorted policing organizations present in the former provinces to form the New Zealand Constabulary Force in 1877.[1] The new force had two main divisions: the Policing Branch in the cities and the Field Force, which continued to exercise military-style surveillance over Māori in some areas. The last significant operation of the Field Force was the crushing ofTe Whiti o Rongomai andTohu Kākahi’s passive resistance movement atParihaka in 1881.[14][19]
The New Zealand Police Force was established as a single national law enforcement agency under thePolice Force Act 1886.[1]At the same time, the militia functions of the Armed Constabulary were transferred to the New Zealand Permanent Militia by theDefence Act 1886.[20]
Just a decade later, policing in New Zealand was given a significant overhaul. In 1898 there was a very constructive Royal Commission of Enquiry into New Zealand Police.[21] The Royal Commission, which included the reforming Commissioner Tunbridge[22] who had come from the Metropolitan Police in London, produced a far-reaching report which laid the basis for positive reform of New Zealand Police for the next several decades. A complete review of police legislation in 1908 built significantly off the Royal Commission's work.[23]
A further police force act, in 1947,[24] reflected some changes of a growing New Zealand, and a country coming out ofWorld War II. The most significant change in the structure and arrangement for police came after the departure of Commissioner Compton under a cloud of government and public concern over his management of Police in 1955.[25] The appointment of a caretaker civilian leader of police, especially titled "controller general" to recognise his non-operational background, opened the windows on the organisation and allowed a period of positive and constructive development to take place.[26]
In 1953 police horses were retired.[27]
Despite being the same organisation in 1958, the wordforce was removed from the name with the Police Act 1958, which was a significant overhaul of police legislation.[23][28]
On 1 July 1992, theTraffic Safety Service of the Ministry of Transport was merged with the police.[29] Up until that time, the Ministry of Transport and local councils had been responsible for traffic law enforcement. In 2000, the police re-established a specialist road policing branch known as the "highway patrol".[30] Today the police are mainly responsible for enforcing traffic law, while local councils can appoint parking wardens, who can enforce traffic rules regarding parking and special vehicle lanes.[26][31] In 2010, after some calls to split traffic enforcement again from standard police duties, it was decided that it would remain part of their duties, partly due to the public having shown "enormous support" for it remaining this way.[23]
The Police Act 1958 was extensively reviewed starting in 2006, after a two and a half-year consultative process thePolicing Act 2008 came into effect on 1 October 2008.[32][33] The process included the world's first use of awiki to allow the public to submit or propose amendments. The wiki was open for less than two weeks, but drew international attention.[34]
More recently, the New Zealand Police has been involved in international policing and peacekeeping missions toEast Timor and theSolomon Islands, to assist these countries with establishing law and order after civil unrest. It has also been involved in community police training inBougainville, in conjunction withAustralian Federal Police. Other overseas deployments for regional assistance and relief have been to Afghanistan as part of thereconstruction effort, theKingdom of Tonga, Thailand for thetsunami disaster and Indonesia afterterrorist bombings. New Zealand Police maintains an international policing support network in eight foreign capitals, and has about 80 staff deployed in differing international missions.[35]
In 1936, there was "a proposal to establish a women police branch in New Zealand", and former principal of the women's section of theSouth Australia Police,Kate Cocks (1875–1954), attended to speak to the member of the government, the commissioner of police, and a gathering of women's societies.[36] Cocks was the first of two female officers in December 1915 with the SA Police, until her retirement in 1935, with the largest women's section of all Australian state law enforcement agencies.
Women were first admitted to the police in 1941 but were not issued uniforms.[37] One of the first intakes wasEdna Pearce, who received the badge number S1 when she was finally issued a uniform in 1952.[38] Pearce made the first arrest by a female police officer in New Zealand.[38] By January 1949, officer R. M. Hadfield did a cross-Tasman interchange, working for two months in Sydney, a month in Melbourne, and Tasmania.[39] At the time, female officers wore only small badges under their coat lapels.[39] 1994 was the last year female officers had a separate uniform to men with the removal of skirts in 1995.[40] In 2020,hijabs were introduced as part of the uniform for Muslim women.[41]
In 2023 on international women's day Director of Recruitment Paula Hill said “As at 31 January this year we had 2,679 full time equivalent constabulary women, this means 25.6% of all constabulary are women – this is the first international women’s day where more than 1 in 4 of the constabulary workforce in New Zealand Police are women."[42]
In 1992 less than 10% of the New Zealand Police were women, but by 2024 38.5% of all New Zealand Police employees were women and 26.1% of all constabulary staff (excluding recruits) were women. This was a 0.5% increase over the previous year (2023) showing a continued improvement of the number of women in constabulary roles.[43][44]
Early New Years Day 2025 Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming became the first female officer to be killed in the line of duty. Fleming was struck by a vehicle driving at speed in an attack described by the commissioner as "an unprovoked and senseless act".[45]
The Police National Headquarters provides policy and planning advice as well as national oversight and management of the organisation. Although headed by aCommissioner, the New Zealand Police is a decentralised organisation divided into 12 districts.
Each district has a geographical area of responsibility and a central station from which subsidiary and suburban stations are managed. As of March 2019, there are 327 police stations around the country[46] with nearly 12,000 staff who respond to more than 600,000 emergency 111 calls each year.[47]
The Commissioner is in overall charge of the New Zealand Police. Assisting the Commissioner are two chief officers in the rank ofDeputy Commissioner: Deputy Commissioner-Resource Management; and Deputy Commissioner-Operations.
Five chief officers in the rank ofAssistant Commissioner and the Director of Intelligence report to the Deputy Commissioner-Operations.[citation needed] The Assistant Commissioner-Investigations/International is responsible for the National Criminal Investigations Group, the Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand (OFCANZ), Financial Crime Group, International Services Group and Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Secretariat. The Investigations and International Group leads the prevention, investigation, disruption and prosecution of serious and transnational crime. It also leads liaison, overseas deployment and capacity building with international policing partners. The Assistant Commissioner-Operations is responsible for Community Policing, Youth, Communications Centres, Operations Group, Prosecutions and Road Policing. The remaining three Assistant Commissioners command geographical policing areas – Upper North, Lower North and South. Each area is divided into three to five districts.
District Commanders hold the rank ofsuperintendent, as do sworn National Managers, the road policing manager in the Waitemata District, responsible for the motorway network and traffic alcohol group. Area Commanders hold the rank ofinspector as do Shift Commanders based in each of the three Communications Centres. District Section Commanders are typically senior sergeants.The New Zealand Police is a member ofInterpol and has close relationships with theAustralian police forces, at both the state and federal level. Several New Zealand Police representatives are posted overseas in key New Zealand diplomatic missions.
It is acknowledged, by both police and legislation, that important and valuable roles in the performance of the functions of the police are played by: public agencies or bodies (for example, local authorities and state sectors), persons who hold certain statutory offices (for example, Maori Wardens), and parts of the private sector, especially the private security industry.[citation needed] It is also acknowledged that it is often appropriate, or even necessary, for police to perform some of its functions by working in cooperation with citizens, or other agencies or bodies.[48]
TheNew Zealand Police Prosecution Service (PPS) is a branch within police that is responsible for initiating all criminal prosecutions in New Zealand. Police prosecutors may be a sworn members of the police (normally asergeant) or acivilian lawyer employed as a non-sworn member of the police - however being a practicinglawyer is not a requirement for the role.[49] All othercommon law countries except forAustralia have discontinued police prosecutions citing a general lack of independence and objectivity of police prosecutors which is likely to be compromised by close contact with police officers, adherence to police culture, and a desire to maintain positive relationships with fellow police officers and staff.[50][51][52][53]
The New Zealand Police is organised into 12 districts: nine in theNorth Island and three in theSouth Island. Each district is subdivided into between two and four areas:[54]
New Zealand Police operate five communications centres that are responsible for receiving111 emergency calls,105 non-emergency calls, *555 traffic calls and general calls for service and dispatching the relevant response. The centres include:
A police employee becomes aConstable by swearing theoath under section 22 of the New Zealand Policing Act 2008. Upon doing so the Constable receives certain statutory powers and responsibilities, including the power of arrest. A recently graduated constable is considered a Probationary constable for up to two years, until they have passed 10 workplace assessment standards. The completion of the above is known as obtaining permanent appointment.[57][58]
After a Constable obtains their permanent appointment, they can move away from being a General Duties Constable which generally involves being in the Public Safety Team or Community Beat Team.[59] After five years a Constable can apply for more specialist roles such as CIB, Dog Handler, Sergeant, etc.[60][61]
The rank of Senior Constable is granted to Constables after 14 years of service and theCommissioner of Police is satisfied with their conduct. Senior Constables are well regarded within the New Zealand Police for their extensive policing experience, and are often used to train and mentor other police officers.[62]
Detective ranks somewhat parallel the street ranks up toDetective Superintendent.[63] Trainee detectives spend a minimum of six months as a Constable on Trial after completing an intensive selection and induction course. During these initial six months they are required to pass four module based exams before progression to Detective Constable.[64] They are then required to continue studying with another six exam based modules as well as a number of workplace assessments. Once the Detective Constable has completed all of this they are then required to sit a pre-requisite exam based on all of the exam based modules they have previously sat. If they are successful in passing this they attend the Royal New Zealand Police College where they complete their training with the Detective Qualification course before receiving the final designation of Detective. All of these requirements are expected to be completed within two to three years.[65]
Detective and Detective Constable are considered designations and not specific ranks. That is, Detectives do not outrank uniformed constables. Nevertheless, a police officer with a detective designation will generally assume control of a serious crime scene rather than a uniform staff member regardless of rank.
Sergeant andSenior Sergeant are the only twonon-commissioned officer ranks. Unlike with commissioned officers, to promote to the rank of aSergeant, Constables must have a good understanding of general policing and pass the Core Policing Knowledge examination, but do not need to be commissioned by theGovernor-General.[66]
Officers ofInspector rank and higher are commissioned by the Governor-General, but are still promoted from the ranks of non-commissioned officers usually Senior Sergeants. The promotion to a commissioned officer often comes with additional reasonability in Area or District Command Centers or Police National Headquarters (PHNQ). Only 5% of officers are commissioned.
Authorised officers are non-sworn staff who do not have the power of arrest.[67] They work as jailers, guards, transport enforcement officers and specialist crime investigators, such as electronic crime investigators and forensic accountants. They wear black uniforms, rather than the blue uniforms of sworn officers.[68] The number of authorised officers increased following the recommendation of a 2012 review of the police that they be used to take some of the workload from sworn officers.[67]
| New Zealand Police ranks and insignia | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank[69] | Commissioner | Deputy Commissioner | Assistant Commissioner | Executive Superintendent | Superintendent | Inspector |
| Epaulette insignia |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Military equivalent[69] | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier | Lieutenant Colonel | Captain | |
| Percentage of officers[69] | 5% | |||||
| New Zealand Police ranks and insignia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank[69] | Senior Sergeant | Sergeant | Senior Constable | Constable | Recruit |
| Epaulette insignia |  |  |  |  |  |
| Military equivalent[69] | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Sergeant | Lance Corporal | Private | Recruit |
| Percentage of officers[69] | 5% | 15% | 75% | ||
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New Zealand police uniforms formerly followed the British model closely but, since the 1970s, a number of changes have been implemented. These include the adoption of a medium blue shade in place of dark blue, the abolition ofcustodian helmets and the substitution of synthetic leather jackets for silver buttoned tunics when on ordinary duty. The normal headdress is a peaked cap with blue and whiteSillitoe tartan band and silver badge. Baseball caps andAkubra wide-brimmed hats are authorised for particular duties or climatic conditions. Stab resistant and high visibility vests are normally worn on duty. The body vests are also marked with Sillitoe tartan markings.
AOS andSTG members, when deployed, wear the usual charcoal-coloured clothing used by armed-response andcounter-terror units around the world. In 2008, a survey found strong staff support for the re-introduction of the white custodian helmets worn until 1995, to reinforce the police's professional image.[70]
Police officers communicate with each other via AppleiPhones. According toVodafone New Zealand (now One NZ) the adaption of smart phones into police equipment save officer 30 minutes of productivity per shift equating to a gain of 520,000 of productivity saved.[71]
For shorter, fast communication, front-line police officers also usetwo-way radios. Police currently use theTait P25 for two-way radio communication.[72] In 2009 New Zealand Police began moving from usinganalogue two-way radios to triallingdigital encrypted two-way radios in the Wellington region.[73] The trial was perceived as having been successful and New Zealand Police planned to roll out digital encrypted two-way radios to all regions. However, this did not progressed as planned and the roll out to areas outside of main centres only began in 2024.[74][75]
The New Zealand Police use a wide variety ofradio codes for quick communication between officers and other police staff such as district command centres or communication centres. Police use their own adaption of10-codes used as status codes, k-codes used as result codes, four-number codes used as event description codes and a number-letter codes used as incident codes.[76][77]
In 2012, the police beganusing drones also known as unmanned aerial vehicles. By 2013, drones had been used only twice; in one case a drone was used in a criminal investigation and led to charges being laid in court. Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff said "organisations using drones needed good privacy policies – or possibly a warrant".[78]
The Air Support Unit, commonly known as its callsign Eagle, is based in Auckland at Auckland Heliport, Pikes Point,Onehunga and operates threeBell 429 GlobalRanger helicopters.[79][80] Starting operation in 1988 the Eagle helicopters generally operate with a crew of three, one civilian pilot and two sworn officers who act as Tactical Flight Operators. The two Tactical Flight Operators, use aforward looking infrared (FLIR) camera, withnight-vision equipment, a night-sun spotlight and gyro-stabilised binoculars, to support ground staff during operations and incidents. Police say the vantage point in the sky allows the Tactical Flight Operators to coordinate ground units to best deal with the operation or incident. Since October 2017 the Eagle helicopter has been operating a24/7 service equating to 3,300 flight hours annually.[81][82] In February 2020, an Eagle helicopter was based inChristchurch atChristchurch Airport for a five-week trial that was eventually cancelled due to budgetary constraints.[83][84][85] Despite the permanent Eagle operation being cancelled, the Eagle helicopter often travels to Christchurch andWellington for major operations such as the2022 Wellington Anti Mandate Protest.[86]
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The New Zealand Police operates twomaritime units, theDeodar III inAuckland commissioned in 2007 and its sister theLady Elizabeth IV inWellington commissioned in 2010. Both Maritime Units are supported by various smaller vessels. The two main vessels are able to operate past their harbour or gulf bounds, with theLady Elizabeth IV sometimes traveling toChristchurch orNew Plymouth for operations.[87][88][89]
The current iteration of maritime units is designed to survive a roll over. This change came after the 1986 tragedy of theLady Elizabeth II which after 13 years of operation capsized killing two police officers, Constable Glenn Hughes and Senior Sergeant Phil Ward.[87][90]
The New Zealand Police has around 3500road vehicles in its fleet with around 2200 of those vehicles being liveried frontline vehicles.[91] TheSkoda Superb Station Wagon is the current generic frontline road vehicle of choice for the New Zealand Police slowly replacing theHolden Commodore.[92][93] Police use both the 162kW and 206kW models of the Skoda Superb with the police versions having a full-size spare instead of a space saver and cloth upholstery instead of leather.[94]
Police also use a wide variety ofUtes (pickup trucks), motorbikes, SUV's, trucks, and vans in various work groups across police. Utes and SUV's are most commonly used in rural areas, but these vehicle are also used in urban areas.[95] Trucks and vans are often used as Team Policing Units, Command Centres, Mobile Police Stations and Mobile Road Safety Base (previously booze bus).[96][97] TheArmed Offenders Squad has its own fleet of, unmarked Toyota Land Cruisers equipped with bull bars and some with ballistic protection.[98]
Liveried vehicles are known as Marked or Uniform and are most commonly white, but can be other standard factory colours with a chequeredBattenburg markings yellow-blue livery. Liveried vehicles make up the majority of the New Zealand Police fleet.[99] In 2021 the New Zealand Police removed the iconic "Safer Communities Together" slogan from the side of their new vehicles instead using that area to promote the use of the111 emergency and105 non-emergency telephone numbers.[100] Police also use a wide variety of vehicles without liveries with hidden emergency lights in standard factory colours, commonly known as unmarked or covert vehicles.[101]
The Highway Patrol and Motorway Patrol divisions mainly use the Skoda Superb slowly replacing the Holden Commodore LT variant along with theVF Commodore SV6 and Evoke.[102] Highway Patrol and Motorway Patrol use the all-wheel drive 206kW model of the Skoda Superb which looks almost identical to other frontline liveried Skoda Superb. The main visual difference between generic frontline vehicles and Highway Patrol and Motorway Patrol vehicles is the livery which has special markings stating Highway Patrol or Motorway Patrol on the sides, back and front.[103]
Dog Section handlers use specially modified Skoda Superbs orFord Rangers replacing specially modified Holden CommadoreUtes,Holden Equinoxes orHolden Colorado's.[104][105] Dog Section vehicles may be liveried or unmarked, the livery on marked Dog Section vehicles is the same yellow-blue Battenburg markings as other frontline police vehicles but have special markings that state Dog Unit on the sides, back and front.[106] Dog Section vehicles are equipped with air-conditioned cages in the rear and remotely operated canopy doors to allow the handler to release their dog if away from the vehicle.[107][108]
The New Zealand Police don't outfit their own vehicles, instead they use Wade Group a New Zealand vehicle outfitting company. Wade Group was founded in 1988, but didn't start outfitting police vehicles until 2015.[109] During outfitting police vehicles are given a livery,emergency lights and sirens, radio communication,gun safes andspeed detection equipment.[110] The emergency lights and sirens are controlled by Wade Groups own control panel.[111] Since starting to outfit police vehicles in 2015, by 2024 Wade Group had outfitted over 5000 vehicles.[112]
According to thenCommissioner of PoliceAndrew Coster, "The New Zealand Police is committed to being a sustainable organisation". As such police use bothfully electric vehicles (EV) andPlug in Hybrid Electric vehicles (PHEV).[113][114] In March 2022 a road trial for PHEVs was launched, Fleet Service Group Manager Brian Yanko says, “It’s expected that the Škoda PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) will be suited to frontline duties in an environment allowing for downtime where it can recharge, a process which takes around seven-hours from a standard 240-volt wall outlet”.[115] The trail was found to be a success as more PHEVs have been purchased and used around the country.[116] In June 2023 police began road trials of five fully electric BMW i4s used by Highway Patrol. The trail was not to test the capability of the BMW i4 in the police fleet, instead to test the capability of electric vehicles within police.[102][117]
 | This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is: Frontline Skoda Superb photo needs to be added. Holden Commodore Evoke, Holden Commodore SV6, Volkswagen Crafter photos need updating. Holden Colorado needs to be replaced with the Ford Ranger. BMW R1200RT needs to be replaced with the Yamaha MT09TRAP.. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2024) |
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New Zealand Police officers carryOC spray (pepper spray),batons andtasers (stun guns). The only officers who routinely carry firearms are members of theDignitary Protection Squad, and international airport units.[120][121][122] All officers are trained to useGlock 17 pistols andBushmaster XM15 M4A3 Patrolman AR-15 type, semi-automatic rifles[123] and wear a holster attachment in case they do need a pistol.[124][125] Since 2012, frontline vehicles have had a locked box in the passenger foot-well containing two loaded and holstered Glock 17s and, in the rear of the vehicle, a locked case with two Bushmaster rifles andballistic vests.[126][127][128] Vehicles are fitted with alarms in case windows are broken.[126] Each officer carries vehicle keys and safe keys.[126]
The Police Association claims the carrying of handguns is inevitable. In January 2013, a Waikato officer was attacked by at least five men after he deployed his OC spray and Taser. His radio was taken from him and his pistol was 'misplaced' during the attack. The Police Association's request for routine carrying of firearms for all officers after this incident was dismissed by the Police Commissioner.[129] The current firearm training and issuing policy has been criticised. Not all police officers receive regular firearm training and not all vehicles contain a firearm. In October 2015, unarmed officers at a routine police checkpoint at Te Atatū South who pursued a vehicle that sped off from the checkpoint were shot at from the offender's vehicle.[130] In December 2015, the Police Association referred to the incident while requesting that all frontline officers receive firearm training and that their vehicles contain a secured firearm. This was rejected.[131]
In July 2015, the Police Commissioner announced that Tasers would be routinely carried by police officers.[132][133] Tasers were first trialled in 2006 and in 2010 were rolled out throughout New Zealand with all frontline vehicles containing an X26 or X2 Taser in a locked box. As of February 2024 police have begun rolling out the new Taser 10 weapon system across the country to replace the outdated Taser X2.[132][134][135][136][137] In 2012, figures showed that a 'disproportionate number of people' targeted by police Tasers were mental health patients.[138]
Police officers receive regular Police Integrated Tactical Training (PITT) with different levels of training, depending upon an officer's role and responsibilities.[125][139] In 2017, a training model was introduced, and the number of officers trained as so-called 'Level 1 responders' increased to 79%. Level 1 includes training with pistols, rifles, tasers, defensive tactics, handcuffs, OC spray and batons.[125][139] In 2019, Level 1 responder live-fire training andsimunitions training increased by 50%.[140] Police annually release a report of theiruse of force including OC spray, Tasers and firearms.[141]
Starting on 28 October 2019 the Armed Response Team (ART) was a trail ran by the New Zealand Police, similar to theUK Armed Response Vehicle model of 'routinely armed' officers on the streets ready to support the frontline.[142][143][144] Then Commissioner of policeMike Bush cited the 2019 Christchurch Mosque Attack and a rise in organised crime as reasons for the trial.[145] The ART vehicles were often crewed by fourArmed Offenders Squad (AOS) officers who delt with high risk situations.[145][146] The staff were descripted by police as well trained and well equipped.[147] During the trial the ARTs were involved in over 8000 events with around 200 of these being firearm events, no ART member ever fired their gun.[147][148]
The trial ended on 26 April 2020 and on 9 June 2020,Police CommissionerAndrew Coster announced that the police would be scrapping their armed response teams after public feedback and consultation with theMāori andPasifika communities.[149][150] Public discussion around the armed response teams was influenced by concerns about police-community relations in light of themurder of George Floyd, which sparked protests around the world includingNew Zealand.[151][152]
In 2006 the New Zealand Police introducedstab-resistant vests, police used the Stab Resistant Body Armour (SRBA) and the ballistic Hard Armour Plate (HAP) used during firearm events as aballistic cover plate. The SRBA was dark blue with police being written largely across the back withSillitoe tartan markings above. On the front the police emblem and police was written much smaller on the left side over the heart with the Sillitoe tartan markings being shorter and across both lower shoulders. There were also two pouches over the stomach one on the left and one on the right with almost all tactical equipment being held on a duty belt.[153][154][155] The stab-resistant vests were seen as a massive success and the SRBA was used until its replacement by the Body Armour System (BAS) in 2019. The BAS are a big upgrade with better stab-resistant technology, the ability to fit ballistic hard armour plates into the vest instead of having to wear an additional vest for ballistic protection and better ability to customise the vest layout of tactical equipment. The BAS looks similar to the SRBA with only subtle differences including the removal of the two pouches over the stomach being replaced with small straps that allow for any tactical equipment wanted to be stored on the vest instead of a duty belt and a new font for the police markings.[156][155]
On 8 October 1941,four police officers were killed by South Island farmerStanley Graham, 40, who fired at them as they attempted to seize arms from his West Coast home at Kowhitirangi. After widespread searches, two policemen and a local civilian saw Graham carrying his rifle and ammunition belts on 20 October.[157] He was shot byConstable James D'Arcy Quirke with a.303 rifle, from a distance of 25 metres,[157] while crawling through a patch of scrub. He died early the next morning inWestland Hospital,Hokitika.
The police investigation into the murders ofHarvey and Jeanette Crewe in 1970 was a turning point in the public's perception of the police. A royal commission subsequently found that the police had planted evidence and framedArthur Allan Thomas for the murder. Writer Keith Hunter believes this introduced "a cynicism (in attitudes towards the police) that infects us today."[158]
During the1981 Springbok tour, the police formed three riot squads known asRed Squad,Blue Squad andWhite Squad to control anti-apartheid protesters who laid siege torugby union fields where the touring team was playing.[159] Police were described as being heavy-handed with their batons as they tried to 'subdue' protesters opposed to the Springbok tour.[160] The tour had a significant effect on public perceptions of the police who since this time "have never been viewed with the same general benign approval".[161]
In July 1985, the New Zealand Police arrested twoFrench Action Service operatives after theRainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk inAuckland harbour. The rapid arrest was attributed to the high level of public support for the investigation.[162]
In October 2007 at least 17 people were arrested ina series of raids under the Suppression of Terrorism Act and the Arms Act 1983. The raids targeted a range of political activists allegedly involved in illegal firearms activity.[163] The case dragged on for nearly four years and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Much of the surveillance evidence was found to have been gained illegally and charges against all but four defendants were dropped.[164] The remaining four were charged with firearms offences, found guilty and sentenced to terms of imprisonment and home detention.[165]
On 20 January 2012, the police flew in by helicopter and arrestedKim Dotcom and three others inCoatesville, Auckland, in an armed raid on Dotcom's house following United Statescybercrime indictments against him for on-line piracy via his internet file sharing company,Megaupload. Assets worth $17 million were seized including eighteen luxury cars, giant screen TVs and works of art. According to Dotcom, about 80 police officers were involved in the operation;[166] the New Zealand police claimed it was between 20 and 30.[167] The incident became controversial when a district court judge ruled that the warrants issued for the property seizures were invalid and it turned out the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) had broken the law when asked by police to spy on Dotcom.
Since 1 September 1886, 34 police officers have been killed by criminals.
A member of the New Zealand Police,Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie, was the last New Zealand civilian recipient of theGeorge Cross, which is awarded for conspicuous gallantry. He fired a warning shot near a gunman atAramoana on 13 November 1990, but was killed by a return shot from the gunman, who also killed twelve others.[168] As of January 2025[update], 34 police officers have been killed by criminal acts, and about 17 by accident, while in the performance of their official duties.[169][170][171] The most recent police officer to be killed in the line of duty was Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, who was struck by a vehicle in "an unprovoked and senseless act" early New Years Day.[172]
In June 2012 theIndependent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a comprehensive report on deaths in police custody.[173] There were 27 deaths in the last ten years – ten of which were suicides. Seven deaths occurred when police were overly vigorous in the use of restraint. Another seven were "caused by the detainee's medical condition" which got dramatically worse in police custody, and three deaths were drug related when police failed to ascertain the detainees were on drugs. Of the 27 deaths, the IPCA said only four "involved serious neglect of duty or breaches of policy by police".[174] On top of deaths in custody, police have shot and killed seven people in the last ten years. One was an innocent bystander, and another two were not carrying firearms but were carrying other weapons.[175] The police were exonerated in all seven cases.
Numerous people have also died in collisions during or shortly after police car chases. In the five years after December 2003, 24 people died and 91 received serious injuries in police pursuits.[176] Over this period, the IPCA made numerous recommendations to change police protocols, but the death rate continued to climb. In 2010, 18 drivers fleeing police were killed.[177] Fourteen of the deaths were triggered by pursuits over minor offences rather than serious crimes.[178] That year police conducted the fourth review of pursuit policy in six years and ignored key recommendations of the Independent Police Conduct Authority making only minor changes to the policy.[179] Over the next 12 months, 15 drivers died in the course of police pursuits.[180] 14% of pursuits result in a crash either by the police or the offender but police guidelines do not provide a predetermined speed at which officers should pull out of a pursuit. The IPCA has now recommended that pursuit policy would should require officers to "state a reason for beginning a pursuit," and recommended compulsory alcohol and drug testing of police officers involved in fatal incidents.[181]
Since 2005 the NZ Police's main counterterrorism and threat assessment group is theNational Security Investigations Team, previously known as the Special Investigation Group.[182] The NSIT is composed of four teams in regional centres, with a remit that covers early intervention in cases of extremism, soliciting informants, and building relationships with communities. Public information on the NSIT was released in relation to criticism of its handling ofright wing terrorism in the lead up to the Christchurch terror attack.[183][184]
The NZ Police are accountable for the operational response to threats to national security, includingterrorism. If an incident escalates to a level where their internal resources are unable to adequately deal with the issue (for example, a major arms encounter or a significant terrorist threat), the Police Incident Controller may call on extra assistance from theNew Zealand Defence Force and in particular NZ's Special Forces, the military focusedNew Zealand Special Air Service and terrorism focused Commando Squadron (D Squadron). Control of the incident remains with police throughout. As of 2009, the two military counter terrorist units have never been deployed in a domestic law-enforcement operation. Military resources such as Light Armoured Vehicles have been used and requested before, such as during theNapier shootings, andRoyal New Zealand Air Force helicopters fromNo. 3 Squadron are often used to assist in search and rescue and cannabis eradication operations.
In 1964, theArmed Offenders Squad (AOS) was created to provide a specialist armed response unit, similar to theMetropolitan Police Service'sSC&O19 in the United Kingdom. In addition to the AOS, the New Zealand Police maintain a full-time counter-terrorist unit, theSpecial Tactics Group (STG). Similar to theFBI'sHostage Rescue Team, the STG train indynamic entry and other tactics vital in high-risk situations. The STG train with theSAS and are the last line of law enforcement response available before a police Incident Controller calls in support from the Defence Force.
Crime statistics are documented in the police annual report.[185] The police also publish bi-yearly statistical summaries of crime for both New Zealand as a whole and each police district. In early 2005,crime statistics for both recorded crime and recorded apprehensions for the last 10 years were published byStatistics New Zealand. These statistics provide offence statistics related to individual sections of legislation and appear to be the most detailed national crime statistics available today.
Throughout its history, the New Zealand Police has been the subject of a number of controversies. Some have been investigated by theIndependent Police Conduct Authority; others have received significant publicity.
The Statute of Winchester was the only general public measure of any consequence enacted to regulate the policing of the country between the Norman Conquest and the Metropolitan Police Act, 1829…
Under normal circumstances, police in New Zealand carry pepper spray, batons, and Tasers, though all are trained with the Glock and Bushmaster.
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