More UK police learn to be Kiwis

Experienced police officers from Britain accepted into the New Zealand Police will start an 11-week conversion course at the Police College at Porirua next week.

The 100 new officers have been recruited without advertising from a database of nearly 2000 officers who expressed interest in moving here, Ten One, the police monthly magazine, reported.

Their conversion into the New Zealand Police has been approached differently from the last big intake of British officers in 2003.

National manager, training and professional development, Alistair Beckett said after consulting graduates from the previous intake a course had been designed that was a cross between a senior and a recruit course with more emphasis on self-directed learning.

"While there's a lot of material in the recruit course they need to learn because it's specific to New Zealand, they can be fast-tracked or extended in some areas. Unlike recruits they need information specific to new immigrants," he said.

The officers, from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, include more than 50 general duties staff, nearly 30 CIB staff and about 15 traffic specialists.

They range in age from 25 to more than 40.

Their experience is also wide-ranging and one of them has been a police officer for more than 20 years.

* Police are looking for dispatchers for the Central Communications Centre in Wellington.

Centre manager Inspector Gary Allcock says working as a dispatcher was excellent experience for constables to broaden their skill base.

"The dispatcher role equips you for invaluable command and control experience that you just don't get on the street at constable level," he told Ten One.

- NZPA