National Party pressure manufactured fat cops – feeling safer yet?

Oh this is madness..

Police applicants who failed physical test still admitted for training

Police are investigating after three applicants who failed physical testing were still admitted for training.

In a statement, assistant commissioner Tusha Penny said it was a clear breach of recruitment policy.

“Police recently became aware of three instances where applicants were approved to begin training at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) without having met the full requirements for the Physical Appraisal Test (PAT).

“Our process does not allow for exemptions to the PAT, and this is a clear breach of the recruitment policy. Recruitment leaders have been reminded by email that there are no circumstances where discretion can be provided for applicants who do not pass the PAT.”

She said police had begun an audit into whether further breaches of the recruitment process had occurred, covering a six-month period.

The investigation would check whether the application process for recruits to the police college had deviated from the required standards, and the findings would be reported publicly.

Pressure is growing as the November deadline for the government’s promise to recruit 500 additional frontline officers nears, but Penny said Commissioner Richard Chambers had been “very clear publicly and internally that recruitment standards will not be compromised”.

“We have previously acknowledged the target of 500 additional officers by 27 November 2025 is ambitious, but we know this is a great opportunity and we are working hard to achieve the target,” she said.

“Police is looking into these matters and conducting an audit to establish if there have been any further breaches of the recruitment process.”

Police bosses in December told ministers it would be “very very challenging” to meet the two-year target, noting at the time total office numbers had decreased by more than 50.

Police confirmed to RNZ that as of 21 April they were still 475 officers short of the target, noting that did not include the 334 recruits still at Police College.

…of course National manufactured fat cops to tick boxes and make up numbers.

Remember in 2024 when Mark Mitchell said making the promised 500 additional officers wouldn’t happen and Winston demanded he do it anyway…

Winston Peters tells police to ‘read the coalition agreement’ amid concerns 500 extra police target will be missed

…well this is how you make top the numbers, you let through Cops who are lower than the threshold.

Rather than paying cops better and providing better mental health services and perks, National just lowered the standards to get the results they wanted.

It’s the exact tactics you expect from National.

 

 

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