08 May 2020
Mr. George
[FYI request #12597 email]
Dear George
Request for information
Thank you for your email dated 9 April 2020 requesting information on AOS/ SPG
remuneration. You requested:
1. What are the average salaries of those who work in AOS and STG?
2.
What allowances do AOS and STG Police offers recieve for their roles?
Your request has been considered in accordance with the Official Information Act
1982 and I enclose the following information:
• As at 31 March 2020 the Average Full Time Equivalent Total
Remuneration of members of the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) or the
Special Tactics Group (STG) is $97,469
• Members of the AOS and the STG receive additional remuneration and
allowances to acknowledge the additional functions they perform. The
relevant sections of the Police Collective Employment Agreement are
attached below.
You have the right, under section 28 (3) of the Official Information Act 1982, to
ask the Ombudsman to review my decision if you are not satisfied with the way I
have responded to your request.
Yours sincerely
Kaye Ryan
Deputy Chief Executive: People and Capability
Police National Headquarters PO Box 3017
Telephone: (04) 474 9499. . www.police.govt.nz
6.1 Armed Offenders Squad
and Police Negotiating Team
Provisions
These provisions replace all previous AOS/PNT allowances and
represent full compensation for all issues associated with AOS/PNT
and also apply to AOS rated dog handlers. The provisions address
AOS/PNT squad conditions including:
• The additional demands and responsibilities including availability
outside normal working hours on duty days, impact on personal
and family life, and physical risk;
• The voluntary nature of membership and the need for employees
to have adequate time for uninterrupted rest and recreation;
• Skil s and training requirements normal y recognised by way of
job evaluation or a specific career structure but are not due to
the part-time nature of AOS membership.
Note: Employees receive this benefit once and cannot receive for
service in PNT and AOS.
AVAILABILITY
Employees to be available during rostered duty days as directed
by AOS Commander, and to ensure personal commitments enable
them to report immediately, if a callout occurs. A duty day is the 24
hours midnight to midnight except where this prevents a normally
recognised day off e.g. in the event of night or swing shifts covering
two days as defined, the “duty day” wil be deemed to be the day on
which the greater part of the shift is worked.
On non-duty days employees are unavailable and exempt from
callout unless notified in advance they are required for the squads
operational efficiency as approved by the District Commander. If so
notified, they are required to respond to callouts, and to maintain
a state of immediate readiness and fitness to return to duty. A
standby al owance is payable for each day or part day during which
the employee is “required to be available” on a non-duty day. An
employee on standby on a statutory holiday day wil be entitled to
a day off in lieu.
Note: Supervisors should give planning priority to assure
operational and public safety and staff have adequate time off. The
parties agreed these provisions should be used only in situations of
real need.
COMPENSATION
Compensation arrangements provide an increase in remuneration
of 6% over four years for employees who remain squad members
for that period delivered in three steps:
• Step 1 Newly appointed AOS/PNT employees are entitled to a
non-superable al owance equating to 4% of TR, payable while
remaining available for the squad.
• Step 2 On completion of 24 months satisfactory performance
with AOS/PNT requirements the 4% allowance is permanently
incorporated into TR. A non-superable al owance equating to a
further 2% of TR is payable subject to availability for the squad.
• Step 3 On completing a further 24 months satisfactory
performance with AOS/PNT requirements, the 2% allowance
wil be incorporated into TR.
Remuneration increases in these provisions extend band maxima
up to 6% for employee, but if leaving the squad, they wil not
normally qualify for an adjustment if rejoining.
6.2 Special Tactical Group (STG)
Applicants for the STG must be AOS squad members at Band H
level or as appointed if NCO’s. A probation period of 6 months
applies to newly appointed members. Employment on STG is
subject to satisfying the provisions of the STG Required
Fitness Policy.
SPECIAL LEAVE PROVISIONS
The “special leave” to be taken within a fortnight of being earned
after HRCSOs/Special Ops is calculated on a sliding scale, at a rate
of four hours for every twenty-four period deployed. Special leave
only accrues after twenty-four hours of an Operation. For example:
After 24 hours ½ day “special leave”
After 48 hours 1 days “special leave”
After 72 hours 1 ½ days “special leave”
After 4 days 2 days “special leave”
After 5 days 2 ½ days “special leave”
Full 24 hour periods are worked to qualify for the ½ day, but
discretion may apply if it is evident extended hours, short of 24,
are worked in a lead up to a special operation.
STG members are eligible for a range of standard and special
conditions including:
• A annual allowance (taxable non superable paid fortnightly) in
lieu of TOIL while in a STG position until a 2015 review when
it may increase or decrease depending on average TOIL being
accrued. The calculation involves dividing the FTE accumulated
TOIL for STG members by FTE STG numbers and multiplying
the average by the salary equivalent of Band H midpoint.
• The “Duty in the Field” al owance in Part 2 clause 2.4.
• They are deemed “shift workers,” and receive 5 days shift
workers leave per year.
• Half plain-clothes al owance wil be paid fortnightly.
• Staff appointed full time wil be rotated to normal policing
duties for a minimum of 3 weeks per year to maintain currency
of experience.
• If appointed full time they wil be issued with a Police mobile
phone and expected to carry this at all times. Where an officer
• agrees to duty, standby al owance is payable.
• Availability on duty days as per AOS provision. Where
specifically directed by the National Manager Ops Support to
be available on a day that would have been off duty, and, not
already directed to be on standby for AOS, a standby allowance
of ($90.61) ($93.33) ($96.12) per day or part thereof is payable
subject to same conditions applicable to AOS.
SELECTION TRAINING COURSES
Overtime is a necessary component of the training course. There
is an expectation of working extended hours at times breaching
the 9 hour break rule. To ensure that there are not significant
accumulations of TOIL on return to district, the STG allowance is
paid for the duration of the course (equating to approximately
$410 (taxable) depending on the duration of the course.) TOIL wil
not be accrued, however, DDOs wil be generated for RDOs that
are worked during the Selection Course. Time sheets must stil be
completed to reflect the hours worked so that other benefits such
as Shift Incentive can stil be credited.
