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The New Zealand Police is the national police force that is responsible for enforcing the criminal law and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace in New Zealand.
Origin and History
The New Zealand Police was first established in 1840 along the lines of similar constabuaries that existed in Britain at that time. The constabuary was initially part police and part militia. It was known as the Armed Constabuary after 1867 and took part in land wars against Maori opposed to colonial expansion at that time.
The Police force was established as a national force under the Police Act in 1886. In 1958 the word force was removed from the name when legislation was revised.
During the 1981 Springbok Tour, the Police formed two riot squads known as Red Squad and Blue Squad to control anti-apartheid protesters who laid siege to rugby fields where the touring team was playing.
In July 1985, New Zealand Police arrested two French Security Service operatives after the Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland. The rapid arrest was attributed to the high level of public support for the investigation.
In the early 1990s, the Traffic Safety Service of the Ministry of Transport was merged with the Police. Up until that time the Ministry of Transport and local councils had been responsible for traffic law enforcement. In 2001, the Police re-established a specialist road policing branch known as the Highway Patrol. Today the Police are responsible for enforcing traffic law while local councils enforce parking regulations.
More recently, New Zealand Police have been involved in peacekeeping missions to East Timor and the Solomon Islands, to assist these countries with establishing law and order after civil wars.
Arms
New Zealand Police officers do not normally bear firearms while on patrol, but routinely carry oleoresin capsicum (pepper) spray and batons. Many police patrol cars do now carry a firearm in a secure container. A separate division, the Armed Offenders Squad, deals with incidents involving firearms or explosives. The presence of armed police at an incident is considered a newsworthy event by the media.
A member of the New Zealand Police, Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie was the last civilian recipient of the George Cross which is awarded for conspicuous gallantry. He fired a warning shot near a gunman at Aramoana, New Zealand on November 13 1990 but was killed by a return shot from the gunman who also killed 12 others.
Organisation
New Zealand Police is a decentralised organisation divided into 12 districts, each with a geographical area of responsibility, and a number of service centres, each providing a national service in their specialty area.
While sworn officers make up the majority of the workforce, non-sworn staff and volunteers provide a wide range of support services where a sworn officer's statutory powers are not required.
External link
New Zealand Police (http://www.police.govt.nz/) - Official Website
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