Police defend recruiting practises

Police are defending their recruitment regime after a man they wanted to speak to about terrorism reached the final stage of assessment towards joining the force.

The applicant's name was also recorded in the police computer system for call-outs to domestic disputes at his home.

The man, a New Zealand citizen of African origin, was told last week he was not suitable to join the police.

The last stage of his application, where potential recruits spend 40 hours on the job with police, was scheduled for this month.

His name was entered in the police system after an associate contacted police about another person and mentioned the 2002 Bali bombings.

A police spokesman did not know when the call was received but said that as a result the man was "somebody who maybe the police were interested in talking to".

Acting Police Commissioner Steve Long said on TV3 last night that there was no evidence to link the man to any terrorists or extremists of any kind. He had no criminal convictions.

The applicant revelations follow the arrest of a recruit at police training college over a serious assault.

The police spokesman said there was a "robust vetting system" around recruitment and the two discoveries showed that it worked.

National Party law and order spokesman Tony Ryall said the second case "beggars belief".