Version : 6.0
Police vehicle management
This chapter contains these topics:
Summary
Police vehicle equipment
Roles and responsibilities
Vehicle classifications
Use of Police vehicles
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Summary
Introduction
This chapter details the responsibilities of Police employees in regard to the management
and approved use of Police vehicles.
Police vehicles must be categorised and equipped prior to deployment
All Police vehicles must be categorised and fitted with the necessary authorised
equipment, prior to being deployed in a district or service centre. This provides both
standardisation of equipment and layout, as well as a warranty on the equipment and
installation by the vehicle manufacturer.
Application
This chapter applies to all Police employees. Authorised Officers and constables should
also read this chapter in conjunction with the Police Manual chapters:
• ‘Urgent Duty Driving’ (UDD);
• ‘Fleeing drivers’; and
• ‘Professional Police Driver Programme’ (PPDP).
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Police vehicle equipment
Equipment in Police vehicles
Non-approved electrical equipment must not be fitted or used in a Police vehicle, as it
may cause radio interference and block radio signals to the vehicle.
Approved navigation device
ICT approve satellite navigation devices for use in Police vehicles. For further information
regarding the current approved device and to purchase one, contact the ICT helpdesk in
the first instance.
Guidelines for the use of a navigation device
These guidelines apply to the use of navigation devices:
• Only an approved navigation device can be installed in a Police vehicle;
• The mounting of the device must comply with 7.7 of the New Zealand Transport
Agency Inspection Manual, and must not interfere with driver visibility or any vehicle
related safety equipment;
• The device must be operated in accordance with the operator’s manual, and must not
be manually operated when the vehicle is in motion;
• The device and window mount must be removed from public display and securely
stored, when the vehicle is left unattended for long periods of time;
• Police must take care of the device at all times; and
• The purchase of navigation devices is a district or service centre expense.
Associated equipment
The minimum equipment requirement for Police vehicles used for enforcement activities
includes:
• a fire extinguisher;
• a first aid kit (including gloves and a mouth to mouth protective device);
• in car TASER/Glock safe;
• rear boot safe;
• traffic cones;
• OC spray kit; and
• Police sign pack.
Modifications to Police vehicles
Selection and layout of Police vehicles
Any equipment fitted to Police vehicles must have been selected and approved for use
after careful consideration, consultation and agreement between all parties involved in
their supply.
Modifications
If a modification to a vehicle is required, approval must be obtained from the Manager:
Fleet Management (FM), PNHQ, before any modification is made. FM will determine
whether the modification will be approved and if so, whether it should be implemented in
other districts. The approval process must consider whether there is any impact on:
• the operation of the vehicle;
• Police communication equipment;
• staff and public safety; and/or
• vehicle and equipment warranties.
Restrictions
Police employees must not make or arrange to be made, any change, relocation,
substitution, addition, deletion or deactivation of a vehicle, any part of a vehicle or any
equipment fitted to a vehicle without the written approval of the Manager: Fleet
Management, PNHQ.
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Roles and responsibilities
Table
This table outlines the roles and responsibilities in respect of vehicle management.
Role Are
responsible
for…
District commanders
Ensuring a Police employee is charged with checking the
National managers
vehicles and associated equipment on a regular basis,
Service Centre managers
and reporting and acting on any faults, issues or non-
compliance with this chapter.
Authorised drivers of any
Complying with the provisions of the law, this, and the
Police vehicle, including
Fleeing driver, UDD, PPDP chapters.
contract vehicles
Who is an authorised driver?
Authorised Officers and constables who have undergone a PPDP assessment are
authorised to drive a Police vehicle, pursuant to their classification (see the PPDP chapter
for further information).
All other Police employees must seek authorisation from their manager to drive a Police
vehicle for work purposes. Any Police employee driving a Police vehicle must comply with
the law, Police instructions, and drive in a manner that prioritises public and Police
safety.
Non-authorised employees
In exceptional circumstances (e.g. a search and rescue operation or an operational
emergency), authorised drivers of any Police vehicle may authorise a non-classified
Police employee, or a member of the public, to drive a marked Police vehicle.
Police employees not authorised to drive marked Police vehicles, may drive them in the
course of vehicle maintenance or to meet an essential need. This is determined by a
National Manager, District Commander or a Service Centre Manager. In these
circumstances, if there is a light bar on the vehicle, it should be covered with an “out of
service” cover.
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Vehicle classifications
Police vehicles are classified into four categories, based on their suitability to undertake
particular roles.
Vehicle classification identification
All vehicles (except designated covert vehicles) have their classification displayed on:
• a label placed on the driver's sun visor; or
• a coloured metal tag attached to the vehicle’s keys; and
• the Police asset register maintained by the National Procurement Group.
If a vehicle is not identified in any of the above, then it must be:
• used as a Category D vehicle; and
• reported to the Manager: Fleet Management, PNHQ.
Police pack vehicles
These are vehicles fitted with features to Police specifications, such as upgraded
suspension and braking capability.
Heavily laden vehicles
A Police vehicle is heavily laden if it has
four or more occupants. This will result in the
vehicle having reduced cornering and braking capacity. A vehicle may also be heavily
laden when carrying a heavy load, whether in the compartment or passenger area.
Approved uses of Police vehicles
This table shows each category and what the vehicle can be used for:
Category UDD Pursuits
Conditions
• Must
not be used for pursuits if heavily laden;
A
3
3
and
• must be fitted with emergency warning devices.
• Must
not be used for pursuits if heavily laden.
• A pursuit controller must replace this vehicle
B
3
3
with a category A vehicle as soon as possible;
and
• must be fitted with emergency warning devices.
• Can be used for pursuit to a life threatening
incident, if no other vehicle is available.
C
3
2
• A pursuit controller must replace this vehicle
with a category A vehicle as soon as possible;
and
• must be fitted with emergency warning devices.
• Heavy four-wheel drive vehicles in remote areas
may only be used for pursuits or UDD if no
other vehicle is available.
• A pursuit controller must replace this vehicle
with a category A vehicle as soon as possible;
D
2
2
and
• must
not be fitted with radars or used for
mobile radar speed enforcement.
Note: Not all 4x4 vehicles are registered as
category D. Always check the vehicle classification
identification of the vehicle.
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Use of Police vehicles
No private journeys or unauthorised passengers
Police vehicles must not be used for private journeys or for the carriage of unauthorised
passengers or private goods, nor must material deviations from routes be made in the
course of authorised journeys.
Assessing risk to passengers in Police vehicles
Authorised Officers and constables must consider the urgency of the job at hand against
the safety and purpose of the passenger/s in their car, without impacting on their ability
to safely execute their duties.
The officer must monitor the situation, continually considering these factors.
Threat
What is the threat to the passenger? Consider:
• How serious is or could the incident be?
• What threat could the passenger be exposed to on the way to or
attending the incident?
Exposure
What is the impact of the passenger being exposed to the incident:
• What type of driving will I need to undertake to get to the incident?
• Does the passenger have adequate training to assist with the
incident?
• Does the passenger have appropriate safety equipment?
• Are there any security risks by taking the passenger to the incident?
Necessity
How urgent is the situation? Ask yourself:
• Why must I attend/respond to this incident now with a passenger?
• What will happen if I don’t respond?
Response
Plan an appropriate response to the incident
• Can I adequately deal with the incident if the passenger is in
attendance/car?
• Decide not to attend – request Comms arrange another unit attend.
• Decide to attend incident – provide additional briefing to passenger
• Decide to attend incident – drop passenger at safe location and
advise Comms.
• Check with your supervisor.
Carriage of members of the public as passengers in Police vehicles
Police employees may carry members of the public in operational situations and in the
lawful execution of their duty as detailed below.
Persons who may be carried as passengers in Police vehicles include anyone:
• being conveyed on official business;
• whose vehicle has broken down away from any ready means of obtaining help and
who needs transport to the nearest telephone or township;
• involved in a crash and in need of conveyance to a doctor, hospital or public hospital;
• the Police employee in charge of the Police vehicle considers Police are obligated to
carry due to the nature of a particular event or incident;
• Police may carry members of the public in non operational situations when associated
with a community charity function, subject to the approval of the area commander.
For example, providing rides at a school gala, or taking part in a local parade. Area
commanders should consider the nature of the charity or event to ensure that the
reputation of Police is not negatively viewed by the public.
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Carriage of family members
Police employees, who work in a rural environment or commence duty from home, may
take members of their family in their vehicle
providing the vehicle is not used for
operational purposes whilst conveying the family member subject to these rules:
• the travel must be necessary for official purposes;
• no undue additional mileage must be run;
• times of commencement and return from the duty trip must not be varied to suit a
private purpose; and
• the utmost discretion must be exercised in taking advantage of this privilege. There
can be unfavourable comment from members of the public, if they see a Government
employee frequently carrying their family or friends as passengers in a Government
vehicle.
Carriage of approved observers (‘ride-alongs')
There are occasions when Police carry persons who are not Police employees, or Police
employees who are not on duty whilst engaged in front line operations. These ‘ride-
alongs’ are for a variety of reasons and always require prior approval as outlined in the
‘Management of observers’) chapter.
Exemption for senior Police employees
Constables above the position of Inspector, or other Police employees of equivalent
position, may carry members of their family or friends when they are required to travel
on duty in a Police vehicle, as set out in the Vehicle Agreement Policy (schedule 3) of
their employment contract.
However, their presence in the vehicle should not interfere with the duty to be
performed. This privilege is subject to these rules:
• the travel must be necessary for official purposes;
• no undue additional mileage must be run;
• times of commencement and return from the duty trip must not be varied to suit a
private purpose; and
• the utmost discretion must be exercised in taking advantage of this privilege. There
can be unfavourable comment from members of the public, if they see a Government
employee frequently carrying their family or friends as passengers in a Government
vehicle.
Note: Constables above the position of Inspector, or other Police employees of
equivalent position, may authorise other Police employees under their control to take
family members and friends with them in the course of a work trip in a Police vehicle,
subject to the rules above. The authority must be
in writing and specifically name the
persons who may be carried.
Retaining vehicles overnight
Police employees may be authorised to retain vehicles at home overnight, if:
• such use of the vehicle is necessary (such as on-call or operational requirements);and
• keeping the vehicle at home will not limit operational efficiency.
If practicable, reasonable and possible, the vehicle should be parked in a place that
reduces the risk of damage.
Note: There needs to be a degree of flexibility depending on a Police employee’s
circumstance (for example a 1-2-3 person station employee, as per the collective
agreement).
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Only a member of the Police Executive, District Commanders, National Managers and
Service Centre Managers may give written authorisation for retaining a Police vehicle
overnight. A separate approval is required for each occasion (except for senior
employee’s contract vehicles) and must specify the nature, occasion and duration of the
purpose. In an emergency, approval may be given by the area controller or O/C station,
but approval must be confirmed by the district commander or national manager at the
earliest opportunity.
Note: If a district has an ongoing operational requirement for a Police employee to
retain a vehicle at night, this can be authorised in writing by the District Commander and
is not required to be completed on a daily basis.
Misconduct and monitoring
Police employees who:
• use Police vehicles contrary to these provisions, may be subject to disciplinary action
• make use of a Police vehicle for a private journey or, in the course of an official
journey, divert a Police vehicle for a private purposes, may be prosecuted for unlawful
conversion of the vehicle.
Police Executive members, District Commanders, National Managers and Service Centre
Managers must actively monitor vehicle use, and ensure that Police vehicles are not used
for private purposes or taken to a Police employee’s home overnight, except as provided
for in these instructions.
Economy in use of Police vehicles
Police employees must take care to ensure the economical use of motor transport and to
limit its use to actual service requirements.
Police employees authorised to grant permission for Police vehicles to be used, must not
do so as a matter of course. They should first satisfy themselves that material delay and
inconvenience would be caused by the use of public transport.
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