A discussion document on Police governance and accountability has been released for public comment as part of the ongoing review of the 1958 Police Act.
"The document is the second in a series of papers to test the waters and encourage views on some of the important issues at the heart of New Zealand policing," says Superintendent Hamish McCardle, the officer leading the review of the Police Act.
Issues Paper 2: Governance and Accountability explores the following ideas:
Clearly positioning Police
Current legislation does not specifically address the basic constitutional position of New Zealand Police. The way Police is set up and governed is not spelt out clearly in statute. Do these key details need to be more overt in new legislation?
What's in a name?
What should New Zealand's policing organisation be called? Should it remain New Zealand Police, or could it change to reflect other aspects of policing such as the New Zealand Police Force or New Zealand Police Service?
Police independence
The concept of constabulary independence helps define the boundaries between Police and government. Essentially, constabulary independence is about day-to-day operational policing being free from political intervention. How could these Police/government boundaries be best defined while retaining the independent office of constable, and how could they be included in new legislation?
Providing for leadership
How should new police legislation reflect the details around appointment, tenure, pay, conditions and performance review for the most senior Police? For example, should there be pre-requisites to holding the top jobs in Police, such as prior policing experience?
Responses to Issues Paper 2 are sought by 15 September 2006. Printed copies are also available on request from the Police Act Review Team, c/- Police National Headquarters, PO Box 3017, Wellington.
Responses can be made via an online form on the Police Act website or by fax to (04) 474 2342; or post to Police Act Review Team, Police National Headquarters, New Zealand Police, PO Box 3017, WELLINGTON.