Police graduates to start in Eastern Region

Extra police officers will start being deployed around the country, including in Hawke's Bay, after the graduation of 60 new constables from the Royal New Zealand Police College.

"Crime prevention and community safety is the focus of the new recruits from Wing 317," Police Minister Stuart Nash said after the officers graduated last Thursday.

"This is the tenth wing to graduate since this government took office in October last year. There are 668 new police officers deployed around the country as a result."

This week, police commissioner Mike Bush confirmed 1800 extra officers, including 114 allocated to the Eastern Region.

Nash says he's delighted with the talent and diversity of Wing 317. There is another strong cohort of female constables at 38 per cent of the wing. Nineteen officers were born overseas and between them speak about a dozen foreign languages.

The youngest recruit is 19 and the oldest is 45. One has the distinction of playing in the Ranfurly Shield-winning Hawke's Bay rugby team, another is a musician who has performed with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

"We are striving to deliver as a result of the Coalition agreement with New Zealand First. Each graduation ceremony is another step towards that goal. In addition we are funding an extra 485 back office support staff.

"The 1800 extra officers are over and above the attrition of current police. The attrition rate in Police is around 5 per cent per annum and is one of the lowest in the wider state sector. The extra frontline officers will go a long way to reducing stress and pressure on the current Police workforce.

"There are former members of the armed forces and others who have done valuable volunteer work in the Fire Service, Search and Rescue teams, surf lifesaving and for Women's Refuge. We are fortunate to have new recruits who reflect the diversity and character of the wider New Zealand population.

"The recruits from Wing 317 will be deployed from Northland to Southland, with the largest single allocation of 12 officers going to Canterbury.

"There is currently a police graduation ceremony every four weeks. Wherever the new recruits are deployed, they allow police to make real inroads into crime prevention in order to reduce victimisation, lower reoffending and bring down imprisonment rates."