Opportunities for finding work as a detective are limited.
Police recruits need to complete two years of service as probationary constables before they can apply to specialise as a detective. In the three years to mid 2009 the amount of staff allocated to the the Criminal Investigations Branch (which detectives work for) increased by 193. However, detective is highly sought after role, and competition is high.
Opportunities greater in the Auckland region
Police numbers in Auckland have risen significantly to keep up with population growth. Police officer turnover in Auckland is also higher than in other areas, which means job opportunities for detectives are likely to come up more regularly.
In June 2009 the police had a total of 11,881 staff, up from 11,413 in June 2008. In May 2009 the police announced they would increase this by another 600 by 2011, with 300 of these in the Counties Manukau area.
Turnover of police in other areas is lower, making it more difficult to get a job. In May 2009, police human resources general manager Wayne Annan said turnover in the police had been falling, particularly in some areas of the South Island – including Christchurch.
Number of detectives in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)| Census | Number of detectives |
|---|
| 1996 | 294 |
| 2001 | 300 |
| 2006 | 360 |
| Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicator Tool. |
The Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), a specialist unit of the New Zealand Police, is the only employer of detectives in New Zealand.
