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

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