Police Staffing Relief Forecast

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31344, 14 April 1967, Page 3

Police Staffing Relief Forecast

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 13. The director of police training and recruiting (Chief Superintendent G. Claridge) today predicted substantial relief to police staffing problems later this year when the benefit of larger cadet intakes is felt, and a new scheme is introduced to help immigration of selected policemen.

These two factors would help greatly in overcoming a shortage of 153 men at March 31, be said.

The shortage, almost double that of a year ago, was mainly the result of extremely poor recruiting in the 12month period. In the year to the end of March, 238 police were recruited, compared with 304 the year before, and 333 in 1964-65.

Mr Claridge attributes the recruiting failure to over-full employment To keep pace with population gains, recruiting had to increase by 50 a year. Based on the authorised strength of one policeman for every 950 of population, this gave a present authorised strength of 2876, compared with an actual strength of 2723. Resignation losses in the police force were proportionately lighter than in other branches of the public service, he said. In August, 62 cadets who began their training 19 months ago would graduate, said Mr Claridge. In the past

40 cadets had graduated each year, but under a stepped-up programme this would rise to 100 graduates a year by 1969.

In September a scheme would be introduced under which policemen in the United Kingdom can be helped to emigrate to. New Zealand. A limit of 30 a year has been set.