1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: Chioda. I'm Chelsea Daniels and This is the Front Page, 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: a daily podcast presented by The New Zealand Herald. There's 3 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: been a leadership shakeup at the Royal New Zealand Police 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: College after a recruiting debacle. It's while a newly released 5 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: survey of training officers has found two thirds were concerned 6 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: about probationary cops understanding of police responsibilities when holding suspects 7 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: and custody. It also found fifty five percent of them 8 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: feel new cops were barely or not at all well 9 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: equipped with knowledge of arrest and charge procedures. All of 10 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: this while the government is slowly backing away from its 11 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: hardline promise of five hundred new cops on the beat 12 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: by November. And at Herald, senior investigative porter Michael Mourra 13 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: has been looking into the police recruitment process and joins 14 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: us now on the Front Page. First off, Mike, tell 15 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: me a little bit about this survey. 16 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, So, the survey got the views of two hundred 17 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: and thirty senior training officers or very experienced police officers 18 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 2: and sought their feedback on the competency and standards of 19 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: the product that was coming out of the Police College, 20 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: ie the recruits were they up to scratch? 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:32,479 Speaker 3: It was a. 22 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 2: March survey, so very recent and a look back over 23 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: a six month period in two hundred and thirty senior 24 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: police giving their opinion is obviously, you know, pretty substantial. 25 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: So the survey in summary showed that there was many 26 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: areas where police recruits coming out onto frontline duties were 27 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: performing reasonably, okay, adequately or in the survey's words. 28 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 3: Quite well. 29 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: And that was driving firearms, tactical gear like use of 30 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: pepper spray and tases, and road policing. Those were all, 31 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: you know, pretty okay. But then there was some really 32 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 2: concerning findings which were related to what many would see 33 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,399 Speaker 2: as relatively basic policing. So there were issues with custodial 34 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: duties i e. What are the rules and procedures for 35 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: holding a suspect in custody. There were issues around arrest 36 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: and charging procedures, and use of police systems like the 37 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: NEAR application, which is the National Intelligence Application. This is 38 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: the database that police officers can look up and find 39 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: out addresses, convictions, any other intelligence about a suspect. 40 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 3: So all of those areas. 41 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: And particularly file preparation, that was the worst came in 42 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: for pretty bad scrutiny. Essentially, the senior police who were 43 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: taking part found that in all of those areas, the 44 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 2: new recruits coming out onto the front line were either 45 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: barely prepared or not well at all prepared in those roles. 46 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 1: Right, So, when we talk about things like, say, procedures 47 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: for making an arrest or laying charges, is that kind 48 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: of like the Miranda rights thing that we see on 49 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: NCIS or something. 50 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, So it could be anything from the requirement 51 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: to read to suspect their rights. You also have to 52 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: inform them precisely the reason why they're being arrested. In 53 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: other cases, if you executing a warrant and arresting someone 54 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: with a warrant it requested, you must provide that warrant 55 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 2: within a reasonable timeframe to the suspect. And there's a 56 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: whole lot of other things that I'm not really aware of. 57 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: I'm not a cop, But yeah, it's those procedures around 58 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: the arrest in laying charges potentially, also that the administrative 59 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: work involved in that and quite a few gaps in that. 60 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: In fact, more than fifty percent of respondents felt that 61 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: the new police on the front line were barely equipped 62 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: or not well at all equipped in those areas of 63 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: making arrests and laying charges, which is you know, relatively 64 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: concerning and will certainly give the bosses at the Police 65 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: College and the executive level food for thought in terms 66 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: of going forward. 67 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: Well, you can be the best driver in the world, 68 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: you can be the best at pepper spraying in the world, 69 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: but if you can't get those charges correct and do 70 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: the paperwork involved, it all falls falls down in court, 71 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: doesn't it. 72 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, So file preparation was by far the most serious. 73 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 2: This is the this is the report we got under 74 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: the Official Information Act and file preparation. It is eighty 75 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: three percent of respondents. So you know, that's well over 76 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 2: one hundred and twenty police who were part of the survey. 77 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: Their findings are that the officers coming out of the 78 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: college were barely or not at all well prepared in 79 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 2: those respects. So file preparation, as you say, that might 80 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: be making a witness statement from someone. It might be 81 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 2: a witness, it might be an offender. All of that stuff, 82 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 2: that paperwork, how you make those notes, where those notes 83 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: are filed, what you do after you've done that interview. 84 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: All that stuff has to be logged. Then is of 85 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 2: course the file preparation, but file preparation also relates to 86 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: going to court. It also relates to the chain of 87 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 2: evidence during investigations into serious crime. If you don't get 88 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 2: that stuff right and you get all the way to 89 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 2: court and you get a fancy defense lawyer, then they 90 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: will rip police apart and the case will fall apart, 91 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: and a lot of effort goes into that, and so 92 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: that is clearly an area that they must improve on. 93 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 4: Look, they've pointed out a number of areas that we 94 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 4: need to pick up and improve, and as we go 95 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 4: forwards what they've shown us and what we've seen in 96 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 4: other evaluations, we'll be pulling together and looking at whereas 97 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 4: our best investment in terms of enhancing and improving training. 98 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 4: Their feedback is really really valuable because they're on the 99 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 4: front line with the probationary comp So. 100 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: Does their feedback result in actual change here at the 101 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: college to improve. 102 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 4: Yes, So we've got a review team underway at the moment. 103 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 4: He'll be looking to put in place some improvements to 104 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 4: our current curriculum early next year, and we'll be doing 105 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 4: some longer term work. 106 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: You've spoken to the Royal and z Police College Director 107 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: Superintendent Sam Keats. Now he's pretty new in the role. Hey, 108 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: what did he have to say. 109 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's only actually been director for six weeks at 110 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: the college, so very new. But I think he was 111 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 2: very very clear during the interview we had that there 112 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 2: are going to be changes to the course at the 113 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 2: Police College as a result of this feedback. He couldn't 114 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 2: precisely say which areas needed to be tweaked, but of 115 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: course you when you look at far preparation and procedures 116 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: for arrest charges, those are obviously key areas that they 117 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: would be looking at. The other thing that I think 118 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: will be up for some debate at the moment is 119 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 2: just the duration that police spend at Police College. At 120 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: the moment, it's twenty weeks that was on Mark Mitchell's call, 121 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 2: increased from sixteen earlier this year, so slightly longer. But 122 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 2: we in New Zealand still have one of the lowest 123 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: training periods in the world according to the Police Association, 124 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: and Chris Carhill told me that essentially he doesn't think 125 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: twenty weeks is long enough. He'd like to see another 126 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: month added on. He also had concerns about the I 127 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: guess real life and environment of training, you know, actually 128 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: getting out to a station during that time that you're 129 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: within the confines of the college to see what policing 130 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: on the frontline is really about. 131 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 3: Now, Sam Keats told me at the moment. 132 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: There is a one week deployment out of that twenty weeks, 133 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: and listening to Tasha Penny from Police who's also made 134 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: comments on this story, I think that is an area 135 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 2: where she would like to see more time actually spent 136 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 2: in practical operational mode as opposed to reading books in 137 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: the police college. And Sam Keats is certainly open to 138 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: making changes in relation to making it more practical in 139 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: terms of the training, and he's also open to the 140 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: idea without making any sort of confirmation that the duration 141 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: of the time recruits spend there could increase. 142 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: Well, that duration actually surprised me. Twenty weeks and you 143 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: get handed a taser and a police car at the 144 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: end of it. I mean, I don't know how long 145 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: you spent studying to be a journalist, but I think 146 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: mine was three years. 147 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 3: I spent four. 148 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 2: But I think what you need to look at for 149 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 2: this is that you know, and Sam Keyes pointed this 150 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 2: out when we were speaking, is that when a recruit 151 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 2: has graduated from police College and they've done their twenty 152 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 2: weeks and they have the ceremony and they are then 153 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 2: dispersed to whichever district they're going to. It's not like 154 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: they are just left to their own devices. And sam 155 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: Keats words that the training aspect of the college is 156 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: just the beginning of the learning, because technically, once you're 157 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: on the front line, you are a probationary constable i e. 158 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 2: A junior for a two year period and during that 159 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 2: time you are supposed to be receiving mentoring and oversight 160 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: from senior police. I guess the question is is a 161 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: senior police officer looking after you. 162 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 3: The whole time? Well, I doubt it, because. 163 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: They've gone and taken a job in Northern Territory or something. 164 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:04,319 Speaker 2: Well potentially, but you can't always, even as a probationary constable, 165 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 2: expect that a senior field training officer is going to 166 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 2: be your wingman all the time. But certainly you know 167 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 2: that there is this period once you're on the front 168 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 2: line that there is feedback and there is oversight. 169 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: When asked about this on Herald Now this week, Prime 170 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: Minister Christopher Luckson said, sort of it feels a little 171 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: bit also like you know a lot of workplaces where 172 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: the new generation is never quite as good as the 173 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: old generation. What did you think of that? 174 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 4: Oh? 175 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think I don't really buy into that sort 176 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 2: of comment. 177 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: I think that bit of a boomer comment, isn't it. 178 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 2: Well, it is a bit of a boomer comment, But 179 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, I guess you could kind of make 180 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 2: that argument. But the point here is that the senior police, 181 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: the experienced police, they are the ones in the know. 182 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 2: And the fact of the matter is is that doing 183 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: surveys like this if you want to and pre the 184 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 2: standards of police that we're putting out on the streets 185 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 2: in New Zealand, is critical because otherwise how do you 186 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 2: actually improve or tweak or adapt the program that they're learning. 187 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: So look, I don't really buy into that comment. I 188 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 2: think it's more or less a throwaway remark, to be honest. 189 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 2: You know, this is clearly an important survey and it's 190 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: one that is going to prompt changes, and those changes, 191 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: according to Superintendent Sam Keats, will be made by early 192 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 2: next year. 193 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: And he gave us a tiny bit of insight into 194 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: this whole five hundred offices by November deadline. 195 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 2: Right, well, essentially the the you know, the national government 196 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 2: has had this target right, five hundred police. It was 197 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 2: always by the end of November. As the months have 198 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 2: gone on over this year, over the last six months especially, 199 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 2: it's gone from oh, look, you know, we're not sure 200 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: if we'll meet that deadline. I can't comment on that, 201 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 2: to hey, we're not too worried if it doesn't mean that, 202 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 2: And now the Prime Minister is actually essentially saying that 203 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 2: that target is dead in the water and that we'll 204 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: get there. When they get there, he'll say it may 205 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: take a couple more months until we get that extra 206 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: five hundred police on the front line. So he's left 207 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: himself a bit of riggle room. But obviously this is 208 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,839 Speaker 2: politically embarrassing because it was a key commitment. 209 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 3: We know that law and order. 210 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: Is a national party and coalition plank, central plank of 211 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 2: their election and so when you're promising that we're going 212 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 2: to do this and you failed to deliver, it doesn't 213 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 2: look great. And so that the narrative, if you like, 214 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 2: from our politicians has been changing over the past few 215 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 2: months until you know, just recently on Herald now essentially 216 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: the PM saying nah, November is not. 217 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 3: Going to happen. 218 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: And we've spoken about concerns with the recruitment process before. 219 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: I think at the end of June, basically applicants being 220 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: led into college via exemptions, not passing fitness tests, struggling 221 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: through English language tests. Has there been any update on. 222 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 3: This, Well, yes, today, I've got emails. 223 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 2: This was around the period where I broke the story 224 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 2: about applicants who were applying to get into Police College 225 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 2: and the fact that they were bypassing or being exempted 226 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 2: from certain tests. When you were applying to get into 227 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: Police College, there are a whole lot of things you 228 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 2: have to do. You can't just rock up and say I, Mike, 229 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 2: I want to start at Police College. You know there's 230 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: background checks, et cetera. But you have to do psychometric testing, 231 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 2: you have to do a fitness test, you have to 232 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: pass literacy so English. Now, of course we know that 233 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 2: after that story and we revealed that there was problems 234 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 2: with the fitness test, that staff being exempted. This big 235 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 2: audit was undertaken and by Police, an internal audit to 236 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 2: find out how widespread the problems were, and of course 237 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: the audit found that they were very widespread. In fact, 238 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: it was common practice, in the words of the author 239 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 2: of the audit, that exemptions or discretionary decisions were being made, 240 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 2: including by some of the top ranked police in the 241 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 2: country who were exempting these applicants. So the emails I've 242 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: got were in May here from Richard Chambers where he 243 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 2: really clearly sets the tone saying changes needed. 244 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: We need to be bold, quick and clinical. 245 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: He talks about culture at the Royal New Zealand Police 246 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 2: College and says, I believe the college may be struggling 247 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: with its identity. This is a question of values, pride 248 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 2: and brand on standards. He's obviously very clear speaks for 249 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: itself and I'm the view that we need to make 250 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 2: some changes that make this very clear from the start. 251 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: So what's happened here is that there's been this embarrassing 252 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: revelation about police officers are not up to scratch getting 253 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 2: into college anyway. Subsequent to that, the Commissioner has come 254 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 2: in and said right, things need to change. 255 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 3: And what we know now is. 256 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 2: That the leadership at the Police College has been completely overhauled. 257 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 2: As I mentioned, Superintendent Sam Keats is in there. He's 258 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: only been six weeks in the role. He has taken 259 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: over from an acting director who took over from another 260 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 2: director who was in place before her. 261 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 3: Sam. 262 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 2: Superintendent Sam Keats has also got a whole lot of 263 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 2: other new leaders around him, so the message is pretty 264 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: clear from the police executive. They're not happy about how 265 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: this has played out, and they have launched into quite 266 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 2: a big overhaul at the Police College in terms of leadership, 267 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 2: decision making and oversight of the quality. 268 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 3: Of our place. 269 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Mike. 270 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: Thank you. 271 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 272 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 273 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: at enzidherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 274 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: produced by Jane Ye and Richard Martin, who is also 275 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to The Front Page 276 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and tune 277 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.