Police want more young recruits

By 2019 more than a quarter of officers will be over 50, compared with 7 per cent in 2000, police magazine 'Ten One' reported. File photo / NZ Herald

Police want more young recruits and are about to launch a campaign to attract them as the average age of officers rises.

Police said the average age of police officers was rising faster than the average age of the population and within nine years more than 60 per cent of police officers would be over 40, compared with 31 per cent in 2000.

And by 2019 more than a quarter of officers would be over 50 compared with 7 per cent in 2000, police magazine Ten One reported.

Police general manager of human resources Wayne Annan said the force had to harness the experience of people in a different way.

"We have to find out how to get the most out of staff when they are not as physically able as they were."

He said older officers wanted to move away from shift work and front line duties but police had to provide a top service around the clock.

Changes were noticed after 2002 when police were no longer obliged to retire at 55, Mr Annan said.

That and the impact of tougher economic conditions brought the attrition rate to its lowest point in 50 years.

He said assessments in competency and health were likely to become more common and the physical competency test was being reviewed by Otago University's College of Physical Education.

Mr Annan said in a decade or so a large number of constabulary staff would retire within a short period and police wanted to prepare for that by dropping the average age of new recruits.

The new campaign would begin next month to target 18 to 25-year-olds and continue for several years.

- NZPA