IR-01-23-23257
9 August 2023
Hunter
[FYI request #23556 email]
Tēnā koe Hunter
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request dated 22 July 2023. You
wrote:
To start, I want to acknowledge that a similar question was lodged in "IR-01-22-
6498". However, I wonder if the following would ever be considered.
1. Individuals following a direct-entry scheme, if successful, must still follow the
"normal" police recruitment process. Being held on a probational period to gain
the relevant experience before beginning the "reinforcement cycle."
2. Direct-entry individuals must still pass any pre-selection screening and
requirements. Meeting any relevant learning objectives to prepare them. If
successful, they can attend selection.
The previous request you mention (IR-01-22-6498) asked if Police has plans to open the
selection process to Police’s Special Tactics Group (STG) to people who are not already
constabulary employees of New Zealand Police.
The response to that previous request remains applicable to your request, that is New
Zealand Police is not currently considering opening STG selection to people who are not
constabulary employees.
It is the core policing skills, knowledge and experience gained as a frontline police officer
(constabulary employee) that provides the foundation for being selected to be an STG
operator. STG members are police officers first and foremost, who then receive additional
tactical training as part of their STG role.
Restricting STG selection to current constabulary employees also ensures that STG
operators have the necessary legal powers granted to constabulary staff, as well as
appropriate experience and currency in applying these legal powers.
Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
Please note that as part of its commitment to openness and transparency, Police
proactively releases some information and documents that may be of interest to the
public. An anonymised version of this response may be publicly released on the New
Zealand Police website.
Ngā mihi
Superintendent Penelope Gifford
Director Tactical Operations
