Police Act 1958

Police Act 1958
New Zealand Parliament
  • An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the establishment and regulation of the Police of New Zealand
Enacted1958
Repealed1 October 2008
Repealed by
Policing Act 2008
Summary
New Zealand Police
Status: Repealed

The Police Act 1958 legislated the functions, governance and administration of the New Zealand Police. It repealed the Police Force Act 1947[1] and was in force from 1958 to 2008.

The Act removed the word 'Force' from the name of New Zealand Police.[2] It is said the change was to better reflect its operating practices and philosophy. The Act established the office of Deputy Commissioner which had not existed prior to the Act.[3]

In 1992 the Traffic Service of the Ministry of Transport was merged into New Zealand Police,[4] this prompted new regulations made under the Act and a review into the structure of New Zealand Police.[3]

In 2000 it was alleged that the Commissioner of Police Peter Doone had prevented the breath testing of his partner Robyn when stopped for driving without lights on at 11pm. The Minister of Police George Hawkins was told that Act needed further clarification with to respect of the role of the Commissioner and the removal of the Commissioner from office.[5] Helen Clark was informed that it would be difficult to remove Doone because he was not subject to disciplinary proceedings under the Police Act.

In later years the Act was criticized for being out of date with modern policing standards and human resource practice.[6] In March 2006, Minister of Police Annette King announced the Act would be reviewed citing a number of issues that would be reviewed including the principles of policing, governance arrangements and human resource management.[7] It was replaced by the Policing Act 2008.

References

  1. ^ "Police Act 1958 (1958 No 109)". www.nzlii.org. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  2. ^ "The establishment of New Zealand Police". New Zealand Police. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  3. ^ a b Bazley, Dame Margaret (March 2007). Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct (PDF). Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct. pp. 119–121. ISBN 978-0-477-10037-3.
  4. ^ Little, Paul (8 May 2019). "When traffic cops used to rule New Zealand roads". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  5. ^ "Hiring and firing of police chief 'needs clarification'". NZ Herald. 2025-01-04. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  6. ^ "Police Support Rewrite Of The Police Act 1958". Scoop News. 7 March 2006.
  7. ^ "Police Act to be reviewed | Beehive.govt.nz". www.beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 2025-01-04.