Quarterly Summary - June 2009

Commission of Inquiry Notable Successes

Police Graduation: Women top the Wing

Of the seventy-eight new constables who graduated from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 257 on 25 June 2009, 16 were women. Their wing patron was the much loved and respected actor and broadcaster Dame Kate Harcourt. Dame Kate made mention of the fact that while women made up just 20 per cent of the wing, they won the four top prizes for academic and overall achievement during their training. The Minister's prize for First in Wing went to Lisa Pomana of Fielding, with Evelyn Bowcock of Auckland earning the Commissioner's Prize for Second in wing and Andrea Noble of Wellington taking the Paton's Prize for Third in Wing. Amy Robertson of Invercargill was recognised for overall academic achievement with the International Police Association academic prize. The graduation also saw Tanya Wilson, of Dargaville, and Constables Bowcock and Pomana recognised for their outstanding contributions during the course.

Supporting Victims of Sexual Abuse

Agreements signed by Police and Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care (DSAC) last month will help ensure a high standard of medical forensic examinations for sexual abuse cases are applied consistently nationwide. The first agreement formalises a relationship between Police and DSAC which has existed for more than 20 years says agreement signatory Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope. “The agreement incorporates our shared aim of improved care to victims and it formally captures all of the best practice developed over a long period. The independent DSAC expertise and approach is something we are very pleased to align with.”

Key Achievements

The quarter sees significant progress with the completion of a further seven of the original 48 Police recommendations.

Recommendation 7

”New Zealand Police should undertake periodic surveys to determine public awareness of the processes for making a complaint against a member of the police or a police associate."

The process for conducting regular surveys has been implemented as part of the Service First project. The question relating to people's knowledge of how to make a complaint has been included in the Citizens' Satisfaction Survey. The survey results are currently reported through the Service First project which will move the Citizens' Satisfaction Survey to business as usual by the end of 2009.

Recommendation 8

"New Zealand Police should develop its database recording the number of complaints against police officers to allow identification of the exact number of complaints and the exact number of complainants for any one officer."

The technical solution (IAPro) was successfully implemented on 6th July 2009. This now provides Police with a workable database which enables the effective management of complaints and notification of serious complaints to the Commissioner. This sets in place the potential for early warning of employee performance issues and allows early intervention.

Recommendation 9

"New Zealand Police should review the implementation of the Adult Sexual Assault Investigation Policy to ensure that the training and resources necessary for its effective implementation are available and seek dedicated funding from the Government and Parliament if necessary."

The revised Adult Sexual Assault Policy is now part of the Police Manual. Adult Sexual Assault / Child Abuse Team will continue to audit the compliance rate as part of business as usual. Training delivery and long-term training through Investigative Professional Development Programme is also ongoing as part of business as usual.

Recommendation 10

"New Zealand Police should incorporate the Adult Sexual Assault Investigation Policy in the "Sexual Offences" section of the New Zealand Police Manual of Best Practice for consistency and ease of reference."

ASAI Guidelines have been consulted, both internally and externally and communicated via the Police intranet. The guidelines were published in the "Sexual Offences" section of the Police Manual on 1 July 2009.

Recommendation 13

"Bearing in mind the mobility of the workforce, New Zealand Police should conduct a review of what training should be mandatory at a national level and what should be left to the discretion of the districts."

The review has been conducted. The process for mandated training has been established and in place since the end of February 2009. Training continues as part of business as usual.

Recommendation 57

"Each police district should establish groups of community representatives, chaired by recognised community leaders, which meet regularly to provide comment and feedback on police service delivery and policing issues throughout the district. Relevant information obtained from the feedback from the community should be incorporated into the police early warning system (see recommendation R47, R48)"

The Community Feedback Model has been published in the Police Manual. Communications to the Districts covering the requirement to engage with existing community groups for the purposes of community feedback have been completed. Districts have been advised of the requirement to report quarterly via the National Business Plans.