Simon Power
National Party Law & Order Spokesman

12 September 2006

When does police recruitment campaign really start?

Police Minister Annette King must tell the public what the real start date for the police recruitment campaign is, says National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.

"Labour and NZ First have promised that 1,000 sworn officers will be added to the Police by the next election.

"First of all she promised Parliament on May 10 that the recruitment start day would be July 1.

"And she confirmed that to a select committee on June 21.

"Then on August 23, her spokesman told the NZ Press Association that the recruitment drive did not start properly until September 1, when a public campaign would be launched.

"But today, the Police Department Manager of Human Resources, Wayne Annan, tells us that 'this is all taking place ahead of our new advertising activity which will commence in late October ...'

"What is the correct start date for the recruitment of the extra 1,000 police, or is this just another cynical bid to hide the fact that the campaign Annette King and Ron Mark promised is way behind schedule so early on?"

ENDS

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