Easy police access to firearms

Although New Zealand police are technically unarmed, many police cars are mobile arsenals, police say.

The shooting of Christchurch man Stephen Bellingham on Wednesday has highlighted the extent to which frontline officers are armed.

A senior officer told The Press firearms were readily accessible to police attending incidents before the Armed Offenders Squad arrived.

"They have to be, but they are not routinely carried by every officer and that's the definition of an unarmed police force."

Every city had police cars equipped with gun safes containing a selection of Glock pistols and M4 or Bushmaster rifles, the officer said.

The Canterbury district commander, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, said any police shift in Christchurch would have one or two cars containing firearms available.

"Somebody always has firearms in their vehicle to give out in emergencies. Sometimes frontline police officers have to respond immediately to a situation before the Armed Offenders Squad gets there," she said.

The car could have a sergeant or senior sergeant who was authorised to distribute the firearms to other attending police and equip himself or herself.

Police officers who routinely carry arms are airport police and Diplomatic Protection Squad officers. Some rural officers carry firearms in their vehicles.

Police Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope said in March that police were not considering routinely arming officers.

The decision on whether police will be equipped with Tasers is not expected until early next year.

Some police say the incident in Christchurch this week has strengthened the case for police to be issued with the 50,000-volt shock devices. A year-long trial was held in Auckland and Wellington, ending last year.

Statistics issued last month showed Tasers had been presented in 120 incidents since last September, but had been fired only 19 times. On other occasions, threats of Taser use had helped to subdue offenders.

Police instructions on carrying firearms are:

Although the police is an unarmed service, it recognises firearms need to be available quickly and safely.

The carriage of firearms by police and the visibility of firearms must be kept to a minimum.

Firearms are not to be carried by officers as a general practice but are allowed in authorised police vehicles.

Such authorisation can extend to sergeant/senior-sergeant patrols, first-response units, CIB patrols, dog patrols and single-crewed patrols.

Vehicles used for this purpose are to be fitted with secure cabinets and consideration should be given for the vehicle to be alarmed.

The district commander must issue strict control procedures over firearms in vehicles and appoint an officer to monitor adherence.

Police may carry police-issue firearms when there is clear and specific evidence of a threat to their lives or the lives of others (or risk of serious injury) but they must receive authorisation.

Commissioned and non-commissioned officers may carry firearms without authorisation if they have evidence their lives or those of others are in danger.

- © Fairfax NZ News