If you thought the results of the last Police pay round could have been better, spare a thought for the tough times faced by colleagues in Ireland who came within a whisker of taking industrial action.

Conference delegates have voted in favour of the Police Association investigating the suitability of frontline staff being equipped with body and/or car cameras and to report the findings to next year’s conference.

Police work can be messy, dirty and dangerous, including coming into contact with sharp objects such as hypodermic needles.

This column is written by a frontline police member. It does not represent the views or policies of the Police Association.

The policing landscape in New Zealand could be very different this time next year if a referendum results in the legalisation of recreational cannabis. Following a recent fact-finding trip to Canada, Police Association President Chris Cahill offers insights into what could happen here.

Police staff are no strangers to claims of bullying and intimidation in the workplace, but increasing awareness and intolerance around such behaviour have pushed the issue into the spotlight this year.