Officer attacked at checkpoint

Police fear more criminals are arming themselves after an officer was bashed at a routine traffic stop.

After the scuffle, at an alcohol checkpoint in Lower Hutt, two guns and ammunition were found in the car, along with cannabis.

The car was stopped about 7pm on Wednesday night and its driver was arrested for unpaid fines.

The 22-year-old man started getting violent, Wellington district road policing team leader, Senior Sergeant Doug Rowan, said.

His 17-year-old male passenger came in from the side, punching a policeman in the face and the back of the head.

The constable suffered cuts and bruises.

After the struggle, police found two sawn-off firearms and ammunition in the car.

It was not yet clear what the two men were up to, Mr Rowan said. "But you have to question what they are doing driving around with firearms in their vehicle."

It was becoming more common for police to find suspects with guns, he said.

"Fortunately they rarely get presented at our staff. There are a lot of people out there who have criminal intent, either to commit robberies, or for self-defence during other crimes such as drug dealing."

The two men appeared in Lower Hutt District Court on Thursday.

They were remanded to appear next week on firearms, offensive weapons, assault and drugs charges.

More than two-thirds of frontline police were threatened with a weapon last year, a survey of Police Association members has found.

About one in 10 was threatened with a firearm.

- © Fairfax NZ News