Open days, policing in the Pacific, Loves-Me-Not reaches 10,000 students and future Police officers visit the Royal New Zealand Police College.
Meet your local cops
Four years ago we opened our doors around the country for the first ever National Police Open Day to showcase modern policing in action. It was a huge success, and we’re repeating the event on Sunday 11 March .
This year’s focus is on recruitment, so if you’ve ever thought about being a cop, come along to your local event and talk to us. Our specialist squads will also have starring roles at some locations, with the Armed Offenders Squad, Search and Rescue, Road Policing and our Bomb Squads showcasing what they do. The ever-popular Police dogs will also make appearances. A list of events can be found here: http://www.police.govt.nz/openday.
Overseas Policing
Last week I visited Timor-Leste where we’ve been deployed since 1999, initially through the United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Today we are there in an advisory role, assisting local Police to maintain public safety and security. Our international support, training and aid efforts are a little known aspect of modern policing, so it was a great opportunity to visit our staff on the ground and give recognition for their efforts.
I also attended the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Executive Leadership Team Meeting in Brisbane. At the meeting, Pacific Chiefs were focused on developing their operational models, using our own, “Prevention First” as an example; and discussing trans-national organised crime, including its impact on the Pacific.
10,000 students reached
Last year the Loves-Me-Not education programme helping young people understand what makes healthy relationships reached about 10,000 students in 105 secondary schools last year. The Sophie Elliott Foundation – founded and chaired by Lesley Elliott, whose daughter Sophie was murdered by an ex-boyfriend in 2008 - partnered with Police to develop Loves-Me-Not. This is a great initiative that supports our ‘Prevention First’ operational approach. Find out more about the Foundation here: http://www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one-magazine/we-%E2%99%A5-loves-me-not.
Ka Mau te Wehi!
On Tuesday, Police Graduates from Wing 312 were treated to a powerful haka by visiting students from Rotorua Boys High School this week. The students, along with girls from Rotorua Girls High, were visiting the Police College as part of their policing studies. We look forward to welcoming them as new Police recruits in the future!
You can view the haka here:
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