Far and Wide....

**placidfemme** · 23rd August 2005, 08:05

Below is a article that was in the Herald this morning...

Now a few years back (like 2) I called up and enquired about joining the police force... and if I remember correctly one had to have either Permanent Residence, or Citizenship to apply for being in the police force... then how come they are hiring people out the country to be cops?

Police search abroad for staff

23.08.05

By Louisa Cleave

Police are again looking overseas for staff, blaming a tight labour market for a shortage of recruits.

Up to 100 of the 600 recruits this year will come from overseas.

The move follows a $50,000 recruitment campaign two years ago that netted 76 British police officers to fill a shortage in Auckland.

More than a dozen of the recruits have since returned home. Among those was an officer who was found to have altered information on his application. He quit before facing disciplinary proceedings.

Police Minister George Hawkins at the time described the British recruitment as a "one-off initiative".

But the Office of the Commissioner yesterday confirmed it was planning to recruit 80 to 100 officers who had expressed an interest in policing in New Zealand.

Police are also looking at changing the recruitment policy that requires applicants to hold New Zealand citizenship or residency.

An exception was made for the British recruits, and the officers were employed on talent visas.

Wayne Annan, police general manager of human resources, said the 80 to 100 overseas recruits would probably go through police college in April.

He said 3000 officers had expressed an interest in working in New Zealand.

Most were employed in Britain, Canada and Australia but a small number were from the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark.

"We have huge interest from overseas, just huge, but it's not our preferred recruiting option."

Mr Annan said other initiatives were under way, including approaching schools and universities for potential recruits.

He expected a strong public reaction to the police decision to recruit more overseas officers.

"It's a difficult issue that we face," Mr Annan said, but "we - along with a raft of other industries in New Zealand - are looking at the way in which we employ people and approaching things in slightly different ways than we have in the past."

He said police numbers were up to full strength and there was no question of a recruiting crisis.

"I think it's a feature of the labour market, really.

"It's hard for any employer to recruit at the moment."

Mr Annan said 80 recruits would enter police college in October and 100 each in January and February.

Staff were needed on the West Coast, at Queenstown, Wairoa, Gisborne and in the Far North.

**myvice** · 23rd August 2005, 21:34

Caus everybody in NZ ether has a "history" with the cops or isn’t stupid enough to join them for what they pay or how they (fail) to look after there own!
I'm lucky, I fall into #2 by 90% but #1 by 10%

caus I have a big mouth and an attitude problem that I still take out to play with when the mood takes me!
Gave it thought when I was younger tho...
I have a grudging respect for those doing the job, don’t know how they cope with dealing with the people they meet every day.

**Dafe** · 23rd August 2005, 21:41

Cops aren't paid enough for what they do! Bring in the suckers.

**Biff** · 23rd August 2005, 22:17

Different thread same topic running here at the moment PF.

**Fart** · 23rd August 2005, 22:18

The NZ economy is good so the average Joe public have choices in the job arena. Supply of jobs are exceeding demand.

**placidfemme** · 24th August 2005, 07:39

Originally Posted by Biff

Different thread same topic running here at the moment PF.

YEah I know... but if you check the times... I actually posted this one first... and no-one replied... then Lou started his thread... so...

**T.I.E** · 24th August 2005, 07:45

Originally Posted by placidfemme

YEah I know... but if you check the times... I actually posted this one first... and no-one replied... then Lou started his thread... so...

ha ha ha. now now children.

i have one question. with the bad rep they have been getting lately and the rights you have to give up. why would you want to join.
they really really need some good PR right about yesturday.

**placidfemme** · 24th August 2005, 07:51

Originally Posted by T.I.E

ha ha ha. now now children.

i have one question. with the bad rep they have been getting lately and the rights you have to give up. why would you want to join.
they really really need some good PR right about yesturday.

Yup thats what they need... they also need a pay rise... I can't remember the exact numbers but your in training for some time, and during training your only getting about $27K PA and then after you've done the training and you become an actual cop is goes up.. but still not by much...

It was the money that put me off looking further into it... I'm not prepared to risk my life on a daily basis, work shift work and lose a lot of friends (because they do things that arn't good

lol) for less than what I'm earning now... even 2 years ago I was earning more than what they were offering...

**T.I.E** · 24th August 2005, 08:02

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Yup thats what they need... they also need a pay rise... I can't remember the exact numbers but your in training for some time, and during training your only getting about $27K PA and then after you've done the training and you become an actual cop is goes up.. but still not by much...

It was the money that put me off looking further into it... I'm not prepared to risk my life on a daily basis, work shift work and lose a lot of friends (because they do things that arn't good

lol) for less than what I'm earning now... even 2 years ago I was earning more than what they were offering...

yep i know what ya mean. i too looked into it. but the thing that put me off was the corruption inside. i couldn't stand it and would dob someone in. and that well all know would be the end of my stint.
they all look after their own.
all i wanted to do would be to walk up and down queen st and help people out. walk the beat would be a great job. meeting new people keeping the peace. and giving out good PR

**placidfemme** · 24th August 2005, 08:09

Originally Posted by T.I.E

yep i know what ya mean. i too looked into it. but the thing that put me off was the corruption inside. i couldn't stand it and would dob someone in. and that well all know would be the end of my stint.
they all look after their own.
all i wanted to do would be to walk up and down queen st and help people out. walk the beat would be a great job. meeting new people keeping the peace. and giving out good PR

I don't think I've seen any cops "walking the beat" anywhere... I've seen those security guards walking up and down queen st, but that was ages ago... I still think that mostly they (the cops) do a good job, like us, they've been let down by the system...

I don't agree with them hiring cops from oversea's and waving the citizenship requirments... thats unfair to other immigrants, and unfair to the cops here, becuase if people from overseas are willing to work for the same low wage, then it's not going to go up... and cops will remain underpaid... there unhappy with thier jobs, and less productive... and in turn possibly go corrupt to get some extra $$$...

Also, it only seems right that an officer of the law should be a NZ citizen... they can still be from another country... but if they havn't gone the hard yard to get into the country... then they won't fully appreciate the country, and the police... from my point of view should love thier country... and have a passion for protecting it... and thats why they are cops... but do you really want a copper running around with the power to do whatever... just because he/she wanted an easy way to get into NZ... it's just wrong...

**T.I.E** · 24th August 2005, 08:14

agree. police are here for the people. they should be paid more.
we need police to start walking th streets for a better presence. instead of hired thugs security gurads doing the job. isn't that like protection money the shops are paying out. seems a little wrong but legal.
and what i want to know is what happened to the old community constable whom if you stepped out of line as a kid you got a boot up the ass and told to go home or else they would tell ya parents.
instead they want to fine everyone.
revenue collecting it seems.
i wish it wasn't like that.