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Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

Strength of Police

  • 1900 – 11 officers, 20 detectives, 56 sergeants, 504 constables – a total of 591.

  • 1920 – 1,325 all ranks.

  • 1938 – 1,715 all ranks.

The strength of the Police remained about this figure until 1955, when it was realised that this was inadequate to match the increase in population. A target of 2,400 was set and reached in December 1958, at which time the Police began to work a five-day week. In 1965 the strength was about 2,700.

Co-creator
Lloyd Ward Reid, Public Relations Officer, Police Department, Wellington.