I am writing in response to your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request of 5 November 2019 regarding the powers of off-duty police officers. Specifically you requested: “I would like to request under the Official Information Act; any information about the powers of off-duty police officers. Any policy, guideline, chapter from police manual or general information would be helpful. Could you please also include off duty police officers powers and limitations in traffic related matters.”
Off duty constables frequently come across offending and situations where it may be necessary to intervene. The powers and responsibilities of constables apply 24 hours a day and nothing prevents an off-duty constable from taking lawful, appropriate and justified actions in situations where they believe intervention or assistance is necessary.
Please find enclosed the Police Instruction ‘Off Duty Interventions’. This policy applies to all areas of policing, including road policing.
Yours sincerely
Superintendent Andrew Sissons National Manager: Response and Operations
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
