New Zealand Commissioner Peter Marshall ends McCop discounts

NEW Zealand's top policeman has warned officers they can't accept discounted meals at fast food outlets.

McDonalds

NEW Zealand's top policeman has sent a stern message to his officers, saying they can't be seen as McCop's by accepting discounted meals at fast food outlets.

Commissioner Peter Marshall was responding to publicity this week about officers receiving healthy discounts from the likes of McDonald's and Subway when in uniform, saying police reputation was too important to be compromised by such perks.

Officers accepting discounted food could be subject to code of conduct investigations, he said.

Commissioner Marshall said police policy about gratuities should be well known and that police must not accept gifts for simply doing a good job.

"It is totally inappropriate for a police officer in uniform to consider receiving discounted food from any outlet.

"In nearly 41 years of service I have never placed myself in that position, a position that cheapens the standing of New Zealand Police.

"If you are standing at a counter in uniform and you are heard and seen to get a discount - what sort of message does that give to the public?"

Retailers simply wanted to attract police to their premises and some would say it was their international policy to give discounts to emergency services personnel, he said.

"I don't care. New Zealand Police officers should pay full price or walk away - it is as simple as that."

McDonald's says many of its franchise owners discount to police, fire and ambulance services ranging from 10 to 50 per cent.

The issue of fast food discounts for police was earlier raised in 2007, when the police association conceded it attracted cut-price security for the outlets.