'Less body armour and tactical equipment required' after 500 extra police target missed

Police got less body armour and tactical equipment than expected because they undershot how many new constables were recruited, according to an official report.

By last November they were meant to hit 500 more officers than when the coalition government came in but did not, and are currently sitting at 378 more officers.

A Treasury report says that led to underspending.

"Slower growth in constabulary officers has meant less body armour and tactical equipment has been required," said the latest available quarterly investment report to March 2026.

Police declined to confirm how much less armour had been purchased. They said more than enough was on hand for everyone, in the right sizes needed.

"Police purchase body armour and tactical equipment well in advance of an officer needing it.

"Police have purchased sufficient tactical equipment to accommodate the needs of the extra staff promised," Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers said in a statement.

On Wednesday afternoon, police told RNZ they still intended to meet the 500 target.

"So there is no change in the overall number of body armour sets the organisation needs. Armour for the 500 was purchased, and it has been delivered and issued, or stored in inventory.

"The report referenced is a quarterly update, and for that quarter the growth in the additional 500 officers budgeted for was under forecast."

Cabinet asked Police Minister Mark Mitchell to follow up with the force given the size of its underspend, the March report showed.

Police had forecast a capital spend of $230m in the nine months to March but spent less than half, or $100m.

This led to $110m unspent on the safety network and armour being transferred to future years, along with some funds for property projects linked to the 500 additional officers target.

"Only a small portion of the funds transferred related to body armour and tactical equipment," said Rogers.

The armour came under the Government's 'investing in frontline policing' programme. Budget 2026 put an extra $50m into this.

The front line target set in 2023 was 10,711 constables by 2025. A week ago police had 10,589. This did not count 315 recruits being trained.

"Whether the 500 growth is achieved before the end of the year will ultimately depend on attrition." Attrition was running at a low 4.6 percent.

They were working hard to increase recruitment without any compromise on professional, ethical and operation standards, Rogers said.

Asked by RNZ if some of the $110m transferred to future years for capital projects might go on bodyworn cameras, police said the cameras depended on government approving a business case and associated funding.

"No decisions have been made at this stage."

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said two years ago that introducing bodycams was a high priority.

Police issued a tender two months ago asking companies what bodycam technology might work.

"It is an excellent opportunity for the supply market to provide early input into this programme," the tender said.

The Police Association has called for cameras but also cautioned against rushing it, saying issues such as when cameras should record, who can access footage, when footage can be released and how privacy would be protected must be sorted.

"A key issue is how footage is interpreted," said the association last month.