Police Officer

Tasks & duties

Police officers may do some or all of the following, depending on their area of specialisation:

Specialisations

Police officers may work as beat or patrol constables, or specialise in one of the following areas:

Armed Offenders Squad Officer

Armed offenders squad officers respond to high-risk situations where offenders have, or are threatening to use, firearms or other weapons against the police.

Criminal Investigation Officer

Criminal investigation officers solve serious and organised crime.

Diplomatic Protection Officer

Diplomatic protection officers provide personal protection for visiting guests of the Government and local dignitaries.

Dog Handler

Dog handlers train dogs to help in search and rescue operations, and drug or arson detection.

Drug Intelligence Officer

Drug intelligence officers detect drug-related crime and bring legal action against offenders.

Electronic Crime Detection Officer

Electronic crime detection officers work in a team to detect and investigate electronic crime, and the use of technology in crime (such as fraud and burglary).

Financial Intelligence Officer

Financial intelligence officers investigate suspicious financial transactions and activities.

Forensic Services Officer

Forensic services officers gather, analyse and document evidence to put before the courts. This includes tasks such as fingerprinting, document examination, photography and electronic evidence recovery.

Maritime Police Officer

Maritime police officers maintain law and order on the water. This includes managing security and property, and conducting search and rescue operations on the water.

Police Diver

Police divers search the ocean and other bodies of water for evidence and human remains. They may be required to video underwater evidence.

Police Education Officer

Police education officers work with young people, their parents and teachers in education programmes that focus on topics such as drug abuse education, crime prevention and social responsibility.

Police Negotiator

Police negotiators use non-violent methods to resolve conflict and persuade offenders and suspects to come into police custody. They may also respond to other situations such as threatened suicides and hostage situations.

Road Policing Officer

Road policing officers enforce traffic rules and regulations.

Search and Rescue Officer

Search and rescue officers co-ordinate search operations. This can include working with other organisations such as the Coast Guard and New Zealand Land Search and Rescue.

Skills & knowledge

Police officers need to have:

• knowledge of police policy and procedures, including the laws relating to police and traffic work
• knowledge of how the court system works
• knowledge of community support services
• knowledge and understanding of a range of cultures
• skill in observing human behaviour
• communication and people skills, including interviewing, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• skill in preparing written and verbal reports
• problem-solving skills
• record-keeping skills

The ability to speak more than one language may also be useful.

Entry requirements

To become a police officer you need to complete the police training course, which involves 19 weeks of training at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua, two years of supervised frontline police work, during which you undertake a series of workplace assessments, and a compulsory university distance learning course.

To enter police training you must:

• be a New Zealand citizen or have permanent residency status, and be living in New Zealand permanently
• pass psychological, numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning assessments
• pass a physical fitness test
• be at least 18 years of age when you graduate from the Royal New Zealand Police College

You must also have a first aid certificate, a full driver's licence, a defensive driving certificate and a swimming certificate of competency.

People with criminal and/or drink driving convictions are not eligible to join the police.

New Cops website – information on how to become a police officer

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary educational requirements to become a police officer. However, Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA equivalent English and maths may be useful, as the police entrance exams test English and maths to this level.

Tertiary education

A number of tertiary courses help prepare police applicants for the police entrance test.

Training on the job

Police officers usually gain most of their skills on the job. They also complete study modules and tertiary training courses, and can undertake further study throughout their career.

Useful experience

A reasonable amount of life experience is helpful to be accepted into police training. Experience in dealing with people or being part of a team environment (such as a sports team) is also helpful.

For more information, please refer to Career Services.