Andrew Coster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Andrew Coster
Andrew Coster at Government House (cropped).jpg
Coster in 2020
33rd Commissioner of Police
Assumed office
3 April 2020
Preceded byMike Bush
Personal details
Born1975/1976 (age 45–46)[1]

Andrew Coster (born 1975/1976) is the current New Zealand Police Commissioner and former Deputy Police Commissioner. He has served as the New Zealand Commissioner of Police since 3 April 2020.[2]

Early life[]

Coster was born in 1975 or 1976. His father is Professor , the former Dean of the Wellington Faculty of Health.[1][3]

Coster holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Management from Victoria University of Wellington.[4]

Career[]

Coster joined the New Zealand Police in 1997 and has worked in both frontline and investigative roles. As his career progressed he was appointed to a number of senior roles, including Auckland City Area Commander, South District Commander. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Coster was the acting Deputy Commissioner: Strategy & Partnerships. While in this role he oversaw the development of firearms reforms introduced by the Government following the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.[5]

Coster has also spent time at the Ministry of Justice, having been seconded on a two-year term from 2016 to 2018 as the Deputy Chief Executive for the Ministry.[6]

In mid-February 2021, Coster's efforts to combat gang and gun violence was criticised by the National Party's Justice spokesperson Simon Bridges, who described Coster as a "wokester commissioner" in a Twitter post.[7] On 25 February, Coster defended the Police's "policing by consent" policies in response to criticism by Bridges during a Justice select committee hearing at the New Zealand Parliament.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Manson, Bess (31 May 2020). "National Portrait: Andrew Coster – Top Cop". Stuff. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  2. ^ "New Commissioner of Police appointed". New Zealand Government. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Retirement of Professor Gregor Coster" (Press release). Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Commissioner, Executive and District Commanders". New Zealand Police. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Andrew Coster named as New Zealand's new police commissioner". Radio New Zealand. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. ^ "2-year secondment to Justice Ministry". Otago Daily Times. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Police crackdown on guns held by organised crime groups and gangs". Radio New Zealand. 19 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  8. ^ McCullough, Yvette (25 February 2021). "Gang crackdown: Simon Bridges, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster face off at select committee". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.

External links[]

Police appointments
Preceded by Commissioner of Police
3 April 2020 – present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""