NZ police officers getting older

File photo / Neville Marriner

New Zealand police are getting older.

In 1999 the median age of a constable was 34 but last year it was 39.

By 2019 the median age is expected to rise to 43, police magazine Ten One reported.

The magazine said the police median age had changed faster than the country's demography for three reasons -- compulsory retirement was dropped in 2002; attrition was very low; and the span of recruitment ages had widened.

It also said recruitment wings commonly included people aged between 18 and 50.

The same issue of the magazine also features the story of one of the country's longest serving police officers, Fletcher Clague-Christian, who has retired aged 72 after 53 years of police service.

Mr Clague-Christian told the magazine his father did not want a "ne'er do well for a son" and took him down to the police station in 1957 to sign up.

He served most of his time on the North Shore and was involved in some major cases, including the murders of Harvey and Jeanette Crewe.

However, he said one of his career highlights was much more low key. A man he had arrested for fighting later wanted to introduce him to his fiancee and show him he had turned his life around.

Mr Clague-Christian officially retired 17 years ago when he was 55 but was asked to return as crime prevention officer for the North Shore.

The magazine said officially the longest-serving member of the police now had notched up 47 years.

- NZPA