Volunteering leads to police career

Police Recruits Min Son and Allan Opinion from Wing 274 are looking forward to graduating from The Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) next week. Their graduation not only signals the end of an intensive 18 weeks training, it is the culmination of two years on a pre-recruitment voluntary programme as Asian Safety Patrollers.

The Asian Safety patrols are an initiative which gives potential applicants exposure to police operations and is a stepping stone for potential recruits. The patrollers play a critical role in addressing crime and victimisation in Auckland City. Every Friday and Saturday they patrol, downtown Auckland and they are also seconded to special operations and patrol cultural festivals.

By a stroke of luck a group of 20 Asian Safety Patrollers from Auckland are visiting the RNZPC on Friday 2 November and recruits Son and Opinion have been invited to meet the group for an afternoon of information sharing and inspiration.

Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, New Zealand Police Strategic Ethnic Adviser, has coordinated the visit and is enthusiastic about the value the group can add to New Zealand Police and their communities while enjoying a career that offers many opportunities.

"We're looking to recruit a broad base of young New Zealanders, in particular women, Asian, Maori, African and Indian people to the job. It's all about ensuring that New Zealand Police remains responsive to our communities which are increasingly diverse. It's fantastic to have some current recruits on hand to inspire the group."

"Many potential applicants wonder about the professional development opportunities in Police. To Asian applicants and their parents I'd say this. There are over 30 different career paths in Police from criminal investigations, prosecutions, youth aid and ethnic liaison work - there is something for everyone. As crime gets more sophisticated we need people with the right problem-solving skills, language skills, and cultural understanding to prevent crime and victimisation in our communities."

Acting Police Commissioner Viv Rickard and Vanisa Dhiru, Chief Executive Volunteering New Zealand, are also meeting with the group tomorrow (Friday 2 November).