KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's police chief said today that women officers hold the key to restoring the force's damaged reputation.
Commissioner Howard Broad said the recent commission of inquiry into police conduct was "difficult, but necessary" and that its recommendations, including increasing the number of women in police, had to be implemented.
The inquiry was ordered following historic rape allegations against police officers.
Dame Margaret Bazley said the police needed to have more women in senior roles to better reflect the community.
Mr Broad, speaking at a conference in Wellington of women police officers from Australia and New Zealand, said: "Each one of you can potentially help repair the damage, particularly to potential women recruits."
He said these women "may have been left feeling unsure about whether police is the place for them".
Currently 16.5 per cent of sworn police officers are women, up from 14.8 per cent 10 years ago and 2.4 per cent 40 years ago, but Mr Broad said this was still not enough.
The conference, which will discuss gender-related issues such as child care, was told by Women's Affairs Minister Lianne Dalziel that Dame Margaret's report was the key to understanding why it was important to have women serving as police.
She said: "It's seems obvious to me that diversity is good for any organisation. It's not the right thing, it's the bright thing."
New Zealand Police Association president Greg O'Connor said: "We aim to ultimately have, like police, better representation in the police association to be at least reflective of police, to make sure that women's issues are brought to the fore.
"We have got to be proactive to make that happen."
The difficulties facing female police in Australia are similar to those in New Zealand, Tasmania Police Association chairman Randolph Wierenga said.
- NZPA
