I am always glad to see Police visible in our communities across New Zealand. I also notice that the Police look increasingly like the rest of New Zealand, with greater diversity in the Police force reflecting the communities they serve.

I understand that for families and businesses impacted by crime, a more consistent and better-resourced Police presence would be welcome.

The good news is that the Government has set aside funding to increase the numbers of Police to increase the safety of our neighbourhoods. However, an ongoing challenge is to encourage people to actually apply for the positions that are open.

I believe that strong potential recruits can be found in the Indian community and potentially every ethnic community. So, we need to ensure that New Zealanders from a range of backgrounds and faiths feel welcome in the recruitment process.

I have recently been made aware of one small way the Police could improve in this area.
Currently, Royal New Zealand Police College graduates are only permitted to take their oaths on the Bible, or to use the standard Constable’s Affirmation.

Swearing the oath on a religious text has a value for wider society, as it has the potential to increase the power of the oath in the conscience of the graduate.

I have been told of instances where graduates wished to take their oath on a religious text other than the Bible but were instructed to take the standard Constable’s Affirmation instead. This situation is far from does not reflect the multicultural reality of modern New Zealand.

To address this, I have drafted legislation to extend the range of religious texts available for oath-taking to include the Bible, New Testament, Old Testament, Gita, Gutka Sahib, Quran, and others. I have also reached out to the Minister of Police, urging the Government to adopt this proposal to avoid the delays and uncertainties of the member’s ballot process.

This change, though seemingly minor, is relevant as the Government seeks to bolster Police recruitment, including with the recent change to allow applicants with a residence visa to start the recruitment process. By allowing graduates to swear on a religious text that resonates with their faith, we avoid a potentially unwelcoming or biased message for potential recruits.

At its core, this initiative is about upholding the principles of religious freedom, choice, and pluralism in our multi-ethnic democracy. It is about recognising and respecting the diverse beliefs of our Police force members and ensuring that they feel welcomed from the very beginning of their service.

I hope the Minister will consider this simple proposal seriously and act swiftly to implement it, either by passing legislation, or by directing Police on how they expect existing legislation to be interpreted to facilitate choice. Our Police do great work, and I would like to see New Zealanders of all faiths welcomed and included as we seek to boost Police resources and keep communities in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and across the regions safe.-
Dr Parmjeet Parmar is ACT’s Ethnic Communities spokesperson and is a List MP based in Pakuranga.