Keeping an eye on the constant need of bringing new cops on bench and frontline policing, New Zealand police is beginning to train new recruits in Auckland.
A pilot project, where for the first time 20 fresh recruits will begin training in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) at Section 5 of Wing 314, is starting on Monday, April 30, 2018.
The in-house learning will take place at the Unitec in Mt Albert and the field training component will be based at the North Shore Policing Centre.
Currently, all fresh recruits receive induction training in Wellington based Royal New Zealand Police College, which for many, acts as a serious impediment, thus restricting their entrance to the police force.
The Police is hoping to unlock those potential new cops to stack up their numbers.
Auckland already has all facilitates required for the recruits to carry out their tactical training, including driving, firearms, and defensive tactics.
They will receive identical training as they would at the Royal New Zealand Police College.
The difference is that they will get to go to their homes and whanau at the end of each day.
Inspector Iain Saunders of the RNZPC said this pilot came about following direct feedback from potential recruits, whom for many said that moving to Wellington for 16 weeks was a real barrier to joining New Zealand Police, particularly those with young children.
“We are incredibly excited about this opportunity to train some of our future officers in Tamaki Makaurau.
“We are bringing some of our trainers up from the RNZPC to ensure consistency in the training the wing receives.
“With our recent recruitment drive to get more people to sign up, we are really keen to see if this initiative can assist us in increasing our numbers by reducing some of the barriers preventing those who would make excellent Police officers from joining up.
We have a great bunch of recruits in this Auckland wing and we will be following a few willing participants and sharing their journeys across our social media pages.”
The Powhiri for Section 5 Wing 314 begins on Monday at 9 am and Commissioner Mike Bush will be present to welcome them following the Powhiri.