Editing Constable (section)

=== New Zealand ===
[[File:New Zealand Police OR-1.svg|thumb|187x187px|Rank epaulette insignia of a constable [[New Zealand Police]]]]
The [[New Zealand Police]] rank structure is heavily influenced by the [[Metropolitan Police]] rank structure and as such constable is the lowest sworn rank in the police service. There are three constable grades within the New Zealand Police, being probationary constable, constable and senior constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What's in a rank? |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one-magazine/whats-rank |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref> The New Zealand Police does not have a [[chief constable]] instead having a [[Police commissioner|commissioner]] which combines the role of [[Chief executive officer|chief executive]] and chief constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commissioner and Executive |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref> The rank epaulette insignia of a probationary constable and constable is a lack of any insignia on the [[rank slide]]. The rank epaulette insignia of a senior constable is a single [[Chevron (insignia)|chevrons]] on the rank slide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police insignia |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history/insignia |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref>

Constables in [[New Zealand]] have powers under the [[Policing Act 2008]], a police employee receives these powers and becomes a constable by swearing the [[oath]] under section 22 of the Policing Act 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policing Act 2008 No 72 (as at 28 October 2021), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2008/0072/latest/whole.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref> After becoming a sworn officer a police employee will leave the [[Royal New Zealand Police College]] and be promoted from recruit to probational constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Pathways {{!}} New Cops {{!}} New Zealand Police Recruiting |url=https://www.newcops.govt.nz/about-the-job/career-pathways |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref> A probationary constable will be promoted to constable once they obtaining permanent appointment which is 10 workplace assessment standards which usually takes around two years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pay and Benefits {{!}} New Cops {{!}} New Zealand Police Recruiting |url=https://www.newcops.govt.nz/about-the-job/pay-benefits |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Police Instructions Policy.pdf |url=https://fyi.org.nz/request/19200/response/74199/attach/html/3/Police%20Instructions%20Policy.pdf.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=fyi.org.nz}}</ref> All police officers in the New Zealand Police are referred to in legislation as constables even if they are a sergeant or above and do not hold the rank of constable. For example the charge for assaulting a police officer is assaulting a constable even if the police officer assaulted was a sergeant or above and does not hold the rank title of constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summary Offences Act 1981 No 113 (as at 28 October 2021), Public Act 10 Assault on Police, prison, or traffic officer – New Zealand Legislation |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1981/0113/latest/DLM53530.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref> 

Unlike many police services in the New Zealand Police, [[Detective|detectives]] are constables and do not outrank their frontline counterparts.