And the beat goes on

Constable Selina Hughes finds she is more resilient because of her work. Picture / Fotopress

There are no minimum qualifications required to enter the NZ Police training college and the failure rate of those who apply is extremely low.

Being a cop these days requires something of a chameleon act because you're continually moulding your behaviour to deal with an environment that's constantly changing. At least that's the conclusion reached by South Auckland policewoman Selina Hughes, 23, since graduating from the Royal NZ Police College three years ago.

On just one shift she can go from a lost child incident, to a domestic dispute, a sudden death, through to a fight afterwards. That's why she says it's important for police officers to keep modifying their personality, how they present and interact with each situation, and the people involved.

"I think we get a little resilient because we see so much. But in each case we have to respond differently," says Hughes, who also has a university degree in sports science.

Hughes isn't quite sure why she's always wanted to be a police officer but suspects it's got a lot to do with her parents' portrayal of them as the good guys. Her mum always said that if she was ever lost or in trouble they were the only people she should talk to. And now that Hughes is a policewoman that's something she wants to honour.

"Sometimes our presence can make a difference," says Hughes.

"Parents can get so caught up in their own domestic disputes they forget about the innocent kids. So I'll take them off into another room and have a great time."

Hughes is one of around 430 cadets who graduate after five months of intensive training at the Porirua-based police training college annually.

Since graduating she's worked in variety of different roles from traffic, the watch-house, inquiry and incident through to general duties.

"There's little chance of boredom setting in and I really like the fact you can go to work and not know what you'll be doing next," she says.

So what sort of training do police cadets get? The five months of cadet training includes everything from driving, forensic techniques, cultural awareness, and firearms training through to road safety, and dispute resolution.

After initial training graduate cadets spend a further two years on the job "probationary" training during which 10 workplace assessment modules have to be passed plus a university paper: Introduction to Criminal Law and Problem Solving.

Though no work days are the same Hughes says an "unusual" combination of work conditions require police officers to:

* Work a variety of shifts including weekends and night work.

* Work in all weather, and often in unpleasant environments.

* Be treated with respect by most, and hostility by others.

* Operate in an objective and balanced way, regardless of circumstances.

* Display tolerance towards all people.

* Show courage in potentially dangerous situations.

Once the two years' workplace assessment has been completed and the constable is deemed to be a competent police officer, they can start applying for specialist roles or begin studying for promotion. What you'll learn during this time, advises Hughes is how to interact with the community, routine patrol procedures, plus an instinct for unusual situations.

Some of the speciality areas police officers may wish to choose from include: armed defenders, fingerprints, dogs, drugs, counter terrorism, firearms, and forensics.

"Much of the probationary training is shift work but once you become a fully-fledged constable there are opportunities to move into areas with more regular hours," says Hughes who's doing year two university papers for her sergeant's level.

So what do you need to be accepted as a police cadet? Though there are no age restrictions, people need to be relatively healthy, have good people skills, strong motivation, and a clean police record.

There are no minimum qualification criteria, but applicants need to pass numerous reasoning tests including maths, English and internal fitness assessments. Successful applicants also need to be able to swim and to have a driving licence. 
Things you should know

* Recruits must be aged 17* or older (no upper age limit).

* No height restriction but minimum fitness required.

* Must be a citizen or permanent resident.

* No formal qualifications but must pass internal academic testing.

* Minimum swimming competency.

* Recruits receive 19 weeks training at Porirua Police College.

* Upon graduation pay goes from $28,824 to $41,142 annually.

* Under 2 per cent of recruits fail to complete police training.

* Six new recruit (around 430 people) intakes annually.

* Police officers can wear glasses.

* Police can specialise after two years.

* Driver's licence essential.

* 15.8 per cent of NZ's 7339 police officers are women.

* Applicants must have a clean criminal record.**

*As long as they have turned 18 when they go to police college.

**Minor offences given consideration.

Source: NZ Police


Newcops Freephone: 0800 639 2677