Police on the beat recruiting Northlanders

Senior Constable Doug Te Puni and Constable Paula Stack are on the beat looking for police recruits. Photo/John Stone

A government promise of more police on the beat means the hunt is on for recruits in Northland.

While the Government is yet to say just how many more staff will join the thin blue line in each of the police districts, Northland is making sure they have plenty of suitable recruits ready to take up the new positions when they become available.

In February the Government pledged half a billion dollars to fight crime, boosting the number of sworn police officers by 880 and non-sworn officers by 245.

The package would increase total police staff numbers to more than 13,000 from 11,925 by June 2021, and total sworn police numbers to nearly 9800 from about 8900.

Since the announcement by Prime Minister Bill English there has been a major push by Northland police with more than 260 people registering their interest with officers at public events such as Waitangi Day and Dargaville Field Days.

Two officers have been charged with contacting those on the list and investigating if policing is a serious career option. There are also recruiting seminars this week to generate more interest and find more recruits who fit the bill.

Constable Paula Stack and Senior Constable Doug Te Puni are the newly appointed Recruit Enquiry Team for Northland.

Mrs Stack, who has nearly 10 years on the beat, said recruiting Northlanders to come back and police in the region was ideal.

Their recruiting strategy was to represent the diversity of the community.

"We want to reflect our community . . . it's about diversity. At the moment we are lacking Maori and female officers," Mrs Slack said.

Police stations in Northland that had positions available were the Mid and Far North.
Mr Te Puni, who has been an officer for 16 years, said it took five years for him to pluck up the courage before he applied.

"Sometimes it takes a lot of pushing for someone to take the first step. You don't have to be a super genius and these days there is plenty of support for the physical tests as well as the written tests," Mr Te Puni said.

Potential recruits in Whangarei and Kaitaia are working together and training one night a week to help each other come up to strength for the physical tests. Mr Te Puni said People Potential in Whangarei were also putting together night courses to help recruits pass the academic test.

Police are this week holding two recruiting seminars to help people start their policing journey. There will be members of those communities speaking about how they took the plunge and joined. The application process will be explained, career opportunities with in the police outlined and information about the pay scale.

On Wednesdaythe team will be at Moerewa Rugby Clubrooms, Simpson Park Moerewa, from 6pm to 7.30pm. On Friday those in Kaitaia should head to Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro, Norman Senn Ave from 6pm to7.30pm.

If you are interested either attend a recruitment evening or go to www.newcops.co.nz and start the process.