Police commanders tell of ‘unfit’ numbers

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 25

Police commanders tell of ‘unfit’ numbers

PA Wellington Police district commanders say they cannot use 243 police staff with confidence on full operational duties for any length of time because of medical or psychological impairment, age, or lack of interest. This number is additional to the 144 police staff who have been officially categorised for full-time sedentary positions because of health or other problems. The New Plymouth police district had the highest percentage of staff rated '‘un-

fit” by their district commander.

He reported to the Police Personnel Policy Committee that he considered 17 of his members “unfit” — 14 per cent of district strength. The unfit number was exclusive of those categorised sedentary. Reports from police districts were:

Whangarei, 9 unfit, 7 per cent of district strength; Auckland, 43, 3; Hamilton, 27, 10; New Plymouth, 17, 14; Wanganui, 10, 8; Gisborne, 3,2; Rotorua, 15, 4; Palmerston Nth, 16, 9;

Napier, 18, 9; Wellington, 40, 4; Nelson, 1,0; Greymouth, 0,0; Timaru, 7,7; Christchurch, 24, 4; Dunedin, 12, 5; Invercargill, 1, 0.

The committee has recommended to the Government that in view of the high number of police staff unfit for frontline duty that there be a review of police superannuation to establish a system where such people are able to leave without suffering financial loss. The Minister of Police, Mr Couch, said yesterday that the Cabinet had agreed that the police develop pro-

posals for an employment structure based on earlier retirement. The committee has recommended that the police establish a standard of medical, physical, and psychological fitness. Failure to maintain the standard would result in compulsory retirement.

Chief Superintendent Peter Mears, a member of the committee, said details of the scheme had not been completed. It was hoped it would be similar to such occupations as airline pilots, where if a pilot failed to meet certain standards he was compulsorily retired, but given adequate compensation.

Mr Mears said it was also hoped that police officers retired under such a system would be found alternative work within the Public Service.

The committee has recommended many person-nel-related changes to the police.

As well as suggesting the introduction of a basic health standard and appropriate early-retirement procedures, the committee has called for the establishment of different job categories within the police through which frontline policemen could be rotated to give them relief from the stress of frontline duties. The committee has also recommended that:

• The police use trained social workers as part of the existing welfare officer service.

• The police psychological and psychiatric services be expanded for programmes of stress identification to be developed. • Leave without pay provisions be extended to allow police staff time off in New Zealand to recover from stress.

• A home purchase scheme be developed so that policemen tied to police houses are not disadvantaged. • Adequate catering be provided for staff working shifts.

• Improvement of telephone diversion systems and the inclusion of one and two-man stations in such systems. • Better radio equipment for one-man and two-man stations.

• Continued development of police recruitment procedures aimed at increasing the percentage of minority ethnic groups. • The police make greater efforts to co-operate formally with the leaders of cultural institutions and ethnic minorities.

• The police review the training needs of senior ranks with a view to developing new programmes. • Administrators be exposed to administrative methods both in the private sector and the State services.