Wednesday, 22 March 2006 - 9:00am |
National News

Public invited to Police College Open Day

3 min read

The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua is holding a public Open Day on Saturday 1 April 10am to 4pm.

The Open Day, which is part of the Police College's 25th anniversary celebrations, will be an event not to be missed! The last public Open Day at the Police College was in 2000.

Open Day visitors will be treated to a number of live displays from specialist police groups including:

* Police Dogs

* Armed Offenders Squad (a helicopter is likely to be involved)

* Police Motorcycles

* Police Pipe Band

* National Dive Squad (demonstrating in the Police College pool).

There will also be more than 20 static displays covering the activities of Police and their partners. This will include a dedicated forensic area (the real 'CSI') with displays about fingerprinting, identikit imaging, electronic crime, document examination (eg handwriting analysis) and a mock forensic laboratory set up by ESR. These displays were recently a popular feature at Te Papa's The Genetic Revolution exhibition.

Additionally, visitors can learn about the Police booze bus, crash analysis, police communications and joining Police. The Police Museum will be open with the added attraction of police dog puppies.

Timings for live displays:

1015 Police Vehicle Management Circuit (skid training track)

1045 Police Dogs and Armed Offenders Squad

1145 Police Motorcycles

1230 Police Pipe Band

1345 Police Motorcycles

1415 Police Pipe Band

1445 Police Vehicle Management Circuit

1515 Police Dogs and Armed Offenders Squad

Location:

The Royal New Zealand Police College is in Papakowhai Road, Porirua.

Parking and public transport:

Aotea College (entry off Whitford Brown Avenue) has offered its grounds for public parking for a $2 donation towards students travelling to Nishio, Porirua's Sister City in Japan. Some parking is also available on nearby streets.

Mana Coach Services operates bus no. 65 from Porirua Railway Station departing at half past every hour on Saturdays with a stop outside the Police College. The return bus departs on the hour every hour.

Refreshments:

A sausage sizzle, pies, tea/coffee and cold drinks will be available for purchase at the Police College. There is also a small café in the College grounds.

The Police College's 25th anniversary:

The Police College is celebrating 25 years at its Porirua site.

As well as the Open Day, anniversary events are also taking place for current and former Police staff including a formal dinner.

The Royal New Zealand Police College was opened by HRH the Prince of Wales on 1 April 1981. Before that the Police College was based at Trentham Military Camp and it has had several other homes in New Zealand Police's 120-year history.

Recent publicity about whooping cough at the Police College:

Regional Public Health has advised that whooping cough is currently circulating in the community and is likely to be around throughout winter. The Police College moved quickly last week when four cases were confirmed at the College. Anyone who might possibly have had the illness at the Police College has been treated and is out of circulation.

Regional Public Health advises that members of the public are at no greater risk of contracting the illness at the Police College than anywhere else in the community. The illness is spread by droplets (eg a cough or sneeze) and doesn't linger on surfaces. No one who is showing or feeling any signs of illness will be working on the Open Day. For more information about whooping cough see http://www.health.govt.nz/

More information about the Open Day:

For more information see www.police.govt.nz/news and look for the RNZPC 25th Anniversary Open Day link.

For more information or if your media organisation plans to attend the Open Day please advise:

Toni Barlow

Communications Adviser

04 238 3413 / 0274 419 216