NZ policewoman works as call girl

The Auckland officer, whose name and rank have not been revealed, apparently took up the part-time work due to financial difficulties.

A police spokesman said although secondary employment was allowed, prostitution was "inappropriate and incompatible with policing".

Prostitution has been legal in New Zealand since 2003.

"(Deputy commissioner) Lyn Provost deemed the nature of the secondary employment as incompatible with policing and the officer is receiving counselling," said police spokesman Jon Neilson.

He added it was known she worked for a limited time as a prostitute, but would not reveal where or when she worked.

Senior police are believed to have discovered the nature of the officer's second job in the past month.

A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Prostitute's Collective said that depending on the brothel, the policewoman could have earned around $NZ500 (£168.16) on busy night.

Ron Mark, the law and order spokesman for the New Zealand First political party said despite prostitution being legal, organised criminals still played a part in the local brothels and the officer would have been vulnerable to extortion.

"I know a hell of a lot of police officers who struggle with the cost of living in Auckland but they don't all rush out and become prostitutes," he said.