POLICE

POLICE

by Lloyd Ward Reid, Public Relations Officer, Police Department, Wellington.

POLICE

In the years immediately prior to the establishment of British sovereignty in New Zealand, its European population, which was scattered along the coast in tiny settlements, had an unenviable reputation for lawlessness. As early as 1813 the authorities at New South Wales had made a vain effort to bring law and order to the country, and pioneer missionaries, such as Samuel Marsden, worked hard for the cause of peace. In 1833 the appointment of James Busby as British Resident at the Bay of Islands gave promise of better things, but he had no effective means of upholding his position. It was left to the initiative of the Europeans to take steps to enforce law and order. At Kororareka in 1838 they formed an association consisting of a president and committee of management. The thirteenth article of its code ordered each member to provide himself with a good musket, a bayonet, a brace of pistols, a cutlass, and some 60 rounds of ball cartridge.

This was the position when Captain William Hobson arrived at the Bay of Islands in late January 1840 armed with the commission of British Consul and with authority to negotiate with the Maoris a treaty (Waitangi) for the cession of sovereignty to the Crown. Hobson had no military force to uphold his authority; all that Gipps, the Governor of New South Wales, could do was to provide him with a sergeant and four troopers of the mounted police. Before he left England, however, Hobson had been told that it might be advisable to raise a militia or constitute a police force. But Hobson had his hands full with other matters. Although from 1840 magistrates had exercised their powers to appoint selected citizens as policemen, it was not until 9 October 1846 that an ordinance for the establishment and maintenance of a constabulary force was passed. In it the police force was described as “a sufficient number of fit and able men who would serve as an ‘armed force’ for preserving the peace and preventing robberies and other felonies and apprehending offenders against the peace”.

Provincial and National Police Forces

The first rules and regulations governing the police in New Zealand were issued in 1852 and included a summary of the principal duties of the Constabulary prescribed by British law. When provincial councils were formed in 1853, provincial police forces were set up in Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury, and, later, in Otago.

The new colony kept its house in order fairly well, especially in the towns. In 1857, according to a newspaper, “Wellington and Auckland each have a smart police force of about 20 men…. theft and violence are particularly rare”. Police duty consisted of keeping the peace among “tipsy sailors, sawyers and bush settlers” and “occasionally capturing and incarcerating them”. When the gold rushes occurred in the early sixties the police on the goldfields often had a hard time keeping the peace. Many crimes of violence and theft were committed. Among those who came seeking their fortunes were desperadoes, some escaped criminals from Australia. In certain provinces, notably Otago, a strong police force had to be created and in this respect St. John Branigan gave outstanding service.

It was not until 1886, when Parliament passed the Police Force Act, that New Zealand had a national civil police force. In New Zealand's first 46 years police work had always been a part of other duties; in the Armed Constabulary the New Zealand military forces and the police have a common national origin. From this time onwards policemen were unarmed and carried out their duties in a community which respected the law. The use of firearms, except in grave emergencies, was neither desired by the Force nor considered necessary to keep order.

Development of the Service

The New Zealand police service is moulded to the British pattern, except for its national organisation with central headquarters control. In Britain the service is divided into autonomous Constabularies.

A military officer, first, Major Gudgeon (1887–90) and then Lieutenant Colonel A. Hume (1890–97), remained in charge of the Police Force until the first Police Commissioner, J. B. Tunbridge (1898–1903), was appointed. He was an experienced officer from England and had also served for several years in the Armed Constabulary. The system of appointing the Commissioner from the ranks continued from this time, and the principle that “every constable potentially carries the Commissioner's baton” is highly valued.

In 1958 a new Police Act was passed in which the word “Force” was discarded, and now the proper title is “The New Zealand Police”. Today the New Zealand Police is a Government Department, though it is recruited, organised, and governed somewhat differently from others. It is established by an Act of Parliament and is under the control of a Cabinet minister who is responsible for policy and overall administration. But direct control is the responsibility of a Commissioner.

For organisational purposes New Zealand is divided into 15 districts, each being under the control of a commissioned officer who has the responsibility for law and order in his area. Each district has a central station, from which are controlled subsidiary and suburban stations. Altogether there are 352 police stations.

The first Police Training School was opened at Mount Cook, Wellington, in 1898. Training continued to be given in the Wellington area until 1953, when a training school was opened in Lyttelton. In 1955, when a rapid expansion of the Police was decided upon, a new centre was established at Trentham, near Wellington. This school not only trains recruits and cadets but also provides short courses for sergeants, senior sergeants, detectives, and commissioned officers. The barracks, with sleeping accommodation for 180, are normally full. Facilities include recreation rooms, canteen, library, gymnasium, and assembly hall. Nearby are playing fields, rifle ranges, and swimming baths.

To join the New Zealand Police an applicant must meet certain standards. He must be at least 19 years of age (17 in the case of a cadet) and not more than 35 and be at least 5 ft 8½ in. tall, well built, in first-class health, and of good eyesight and hearing. He must produce references to character and show he has not been convicted of any criminal offence. He must pass an educational test. The recruit then undergoes a 13-week training course at Trentham; for cadets it is 19 months. Training is not complete at the end of this period. For the next 21 months the recruit, posted to a station, takes an in-service training course in law. When this is completed he sits an examination for permanent employment.

Service in the Criminal Investigation Branch

At national headquarters in Wellington (staff and administrative officers) is the Criminal Investigation (Detective) Branch (CIB), which has existed since the civil Police Force was formed in 1886. A CIB is attached to each district headquarters and its members undertake the investigation and detection of the more serious offences in the district. Entry to the CIB is from the uniform branch. When a constable has had beat-duty experience he may apply for a transfer to the CIB. Acceptance depends not only on his general qualifications, such as good education and personality, but also on the zeal and intelligence he has shown as a constable. During his two years on beat duty he will have taken an in-service training course on general police work, and the marking of his papers will also have a bearing on his acceptance for the CIB.

The CIB is one of several specialist sections – others are the prosecutions section, telecommunications section, juvenile crime prevention section, ballistics section, and the dog unit. There are also some specialist sections within the branch.

Policewomen

Although provision was made in 1938 for the appointment of policewomen, it was not until 1941 that the first six were sworn in. At first they were not in uniform and were mainly on office duties. The first uniformed policewomen went on outside duty in 1949 and the present regulation uniform was finally adopted in 1952. The outdoor duties of a policewoman are basically the same as for the male police officer and include patrol work. Uniformed policewomen carry handcuffs, but find the sight of their uniforms is usually a deterrent to bad behaviour. In 1958 the first woman passed the police sergeants' examination to qualify for promotion. In 1962, a policewoman passed the examination for senior sergeant, the first to do so.

Women have been admitted to the CIB since 1956, all having seen service in the uniform branch. The duties of women members of the CIB are again much the same as for male detectives, with emphasis on thefts, false pretences, assaults, and crimes against women and children.

At the end of March 1965 there were 51 policewomen in the New Zealand Police. Applicants must be between the ages of 20 years (the entry age was lowered at the beginning of 1963 from 23 years to 20 years) and 33, at least 5 ft 5 in. tall, of good health, of proved character, and of British nationality.

Strength of Police

  • 1900 – 11 officers, 20 detectives, 56 sergeants, 504 constables – a total of 591.

  • 1920 – 1,325 all ranks.

  • 1938 – 1,715 all ranks.

The strength of the Police remained about this figure until 1955, when it was realised that this was inadequate to match the increase in population. A target of 2,400 was set and reached in December 1958, at which time the Police began to work a five-day week. In 1965 the strength was about 2,700.

Police Organisations

The New Zealand Police Association, formed in 1936, speaks for individual constables and non-commissioned members of the Police. Above non-commissioned rank staff interests are represented by the Police Officers' Guild. The movement began in Auckland, the first attempt being made in 1913 to form the association. The effort broke down, however, in the face of opposition from the Minister of Justice. Provision was made for non-commissioned members to join the Public Service Association, but this proved unsuccessful. Police members were thus left without any effective organisation until 1935, when the Government acceded to a proposal to form a police association. Present membership is about 2,500. Each of the 15 police districts annually elects a district committee, sending a delegate to an annual conference in Wellington. The general secretary of the organisation is the only paid officer, and is not a member of the Police.

The New Zealand Police Officers' Guild was set up in 1955, its secretary and executive being located in Wellington. Its objects are to provide a channel of direct approach to the Commissioner, or to the Minister, if need be, on matters affecting the Police in general and commissioned officers in particular; to provide harmony among commissioned officers; and to assist the Commissioner in his task of controlling the Police in its service to, and in the interests of, the Government and public.

The Commissioner from time to time consults the guild and outlines administrative changes he may have in mind.

Headquarters Organisation

At Police headquarters in Wellington there are two Assistant Commissioners responsible to the Commissioner. The Assistant Commissioner at headquarters longest in office is the Commissioner's deputy and assumes control in his absence. He is also responsible to the Commissioner for various headquarters sections – communications, civil defence, search and rescue, the arms bureau, and the handling of inter-departmental affairs and overseas correspondence.

A Chief Superintendent is responsible to the Assistant Commissioner for the administration of research and planning, police training, and the operation of the training school at Trentham, the personnel section, the police-dog unit, and police vehicles. These sections are each in the charge of a commissioned officer or a non-commissioned officer. The other Assistant Commissioner is in charge of the CIB administration on a national basis and is also responsible for the Criminal Records Bureau and its associated activities – fingerprints, photography, information, statistics, the Police Gazette, and its photographic supplement.

In the Police Headquarters organisation there is also a Superintendent of Staff, who is responsible for all transfers of constables and sergeants, housing as a result of transfers, and sport; a solicitor, who looks after all legal problems arising from police work; a director of medical services who advises the Commissioner on all medical matters affecting the Police; a secretary who, with the help of an administration officer, controls all civilian staff in the Department and its financial affairs; and a public relations officer who is the Department's and the Minister's press officer, responsible for all general publicity.

Police Unit in Cyprus

In 1964, following a request from United Nations, New Zealand furnished a volunteer force of 20 policemen for peace-keeping duties in Cyprus. The party reached Cyprus on 21 May 1964, expecting to remain there for six months. Since then the term of service has been extended and the original party replaced. The New Zealand Police unit is stationed in Limasol, where it acts as liaison between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot police and investigates incidents between the two peoples. Other duties include the overseeing of Greek Cypriot road blocks and escorting Red Crescent convoys through them, and supervising the stevedoring and convoying of cargoes of arms.

Some Landmarks

1904 – Fingerprints introduced. E. W. Dinnie, son of a former Commissioner of Police, studied in England and took over this work in New Zealand with the rank of senior sergeant. He remained in charge of the fingerprint branch for 42 years.

1938 – Patrol car system began, at first in Auckland and later in Wellington. It is now in use throughout New Zealand.

1946 – One-way radio introduced.

1948 – Two-way radio introduced at Christchurch. This was of great value and was soon being used in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. It has been one of the great advances in detecting and preventing crime and is now in use in New Zealand in all but one police district.

1956 – New Zealand's first police-dog section established at Trentham, Wellington.

1958 – Two-frequency radio introduced in Wellington. Teleprinter service introduced into the North Island on a permanent basis – Auckland-Wellington, Auckland-Hamilton, and Wellington-Palmerston North. All districts in both Islands have since been connected.

1963 – Reorganisation and modernising of national headquarters administration, including the streamlining of criminal records through the introduction of a criminal records bureau.

by Lloyd Ward Reid, Public Relations Officer, Police Department, Wellington.

POLICE 22-Apr-09 Lloyd Ward Reid, Public Relations Officer, Police Department, Wellington.