Summarised by Centrist
Every police officer in New Zealand has been ordered to complete a new online module on alcohol breath testing after an internal audit revealed that more than 100 staff are under investigation for falsifying tens of thousands of test results.
A new algorithm flagged around 30,000 tests as false or erroneous, exposing a pattern in which some officers repeatedly activated testing devices without actually engaging motorists. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers told state-funded media the practice “undermined public trust and confidence in road policing.”
Rogers said the retraining, which covers correct device use, data procedures, and road safety obligations, must be completed by December 4. While no officers have yet been stood down, both employment and potential criminal investigations are underway.
The falsifications were detected nationwide, many within dedicated road policing teams that had otherwise logged record numbers of genuine tests and the lowest alcohol-related road deaths last year. Police partners, including NZTA and the Ministry of Transport, were informed in September and are closely monitoring developments.
An NZTA spokesperson said road safety enforcement targets “remain effective” but confirmed an independent evaluation of its Road Policing Investment Programme is now in progress.
