A police leader accepts the sex allegations against former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming will likely hinder recruitment amid efforts to finally achieve the Government’s failed target.
Thursday, two years since the coalition Government was formed, is the deadline to achieve one of its central police policies to recruit 500 extra police officers in two years.
The policy, which did not include vacancies, committed to increasing police’s constabulary force from 10,211 to 10,711 by November 27, 2025.
At present, the number stands at 10,451 with a further 313 currently in training.
Projections indicated about 900 officers would have been added this year, not counting the roughly 500 officers who would have left over the 12 months.
Police estimates when the Government’s target would be reached have been pushed out several times. While police have grown reluctant to publicly update projections, a Treasury briefing reported by the suggests September next year is the latest estimate.
Speaking to the Herald, Assistant Police Commissioner Tusha Penny said she had been informed that the estimate had been calculated using 5.5% attrition (it’s currently 4.8%) and not factoring in officers rejoining (about 90 have rejoined this year).
“We believe we’re on track for mid-year delivery,” Penny said, refusing to guess a month.
“We were slow, but I think this last year has shown us what we can do and we are building the momentum.”
Police had a weekly recruit application target of 120. With just 77 applications last week, Penny acknowledged the typical slow-down in applications towards the end of the year had come earlier than usual.
Earlier this month, police were consumed by scandal when it was revealed McSkimming, who had been vying for the Police Commissioner role, faced allegations he was a sexual predator and complaints about his alleged actions had been ignored by members of police’s executive.
Asked whether the scandal would impact recruitment, Penny suspected it would.
“I can’t say definitively, but it would have to be a factor.
“I think we would be naive to think that that won’t have a hit on people thinking about joining the New Zealand police, but I hope they would balance that with everything our people do every day on the frontline.”
Penny said she wasn’t aware of any specific actions being taken to respond to any impact the allegations could have on recruitment.
One of the measures police had employed to boost numbers was its first in-person recruitment drive in Australia this year to primarily encourage New Zealanders policing across the ditch to come home, prompted by repeated recruitment efforts from Australia attracting Kiwi cops.
Since May, 45 officers had contacted New Zealand police from Australia. There had been 15 formal applications to relocate with three already relocated and working in New Zealand.
Penny claimed some officers in Australia had told recruiters they were considering moving next year.
She promised Australian recruitment drives would continue.
“We will be frequent flyers into the states of Australia to make sure we bring our people home.”
Penny doubted whether it would risk more aggressive recruitment campaigns from Australian police.
“The question I have is: how can they be more aggressive?
“Not that I want to give them a challenge, but they’re already here, they’re taking a lot of media time, they’re doing promotions, so outside of kidnapping, I don’t know how more aggressive they can be.”
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.