Why don't New Zealand police carry guns?

Answer 1

'Senior officers have weapons locked in the boots of their vehicles in case they need to hand out guns to staff in an emergency. These officers include emergency response police, Crime Investigation Bureau staff, dog handlers and some rural police.'

'A senior Auckland policeman, who did not want to be named, said he and his frontline colleagues regularly wore a gun in a holster when going to violent incidents, but made sure it was hidden under a jersey.'

'The instructions note: "The NZ police is generally an unarmed service. It is recognised, however, that firearms need to be available quickly, easily and safely. Minimum visibility should be applied at all times."'

In the last 20 years 10 people have been fatally shot and many more wounded by police with firearms.

Sunday Star-Times investigation has revealed weapons are close at hand in many situations.^

NZ is not a dangerous country - trust me, I have been to many developed and developing countries, and NZ is better off leaving guns to the armed defenders squad. Guns are bad, and an increase in police carrying guns will no doubt result in civilians carrying more guns, which is not good. I say keep NZ as gun-free as possible, let's not normalise guns! Jake Howie

The south Auckland liquor store owner might have had a chance to survive if police were armed and able to intervene early, rather than wait until they had the necessary resources.

This is a complete change in attitude for me but now I also believe that anyone who uses a weapon - knife, sword, gun, whatever - to attack a police officer should be prepared for the police to use lethal force to defend themselves. In the end we will get the police force we deserve.

The survey of 500 people by Research New Zealand has also revealed that 44 per cent of the public are more concerned about their personal safety than they were last year.

Just five years ago a majority were still opposed to the idea. Only 33 per cent supported it. Now 53 per cent would approve.

New Zealand Hearld^

Currently police can only use firearms to:

DEFEND THEMSELVES OR OTHERS

PREVENT THE ESCAPE

ARREST

New Zealand Police Site.^

The New Zealand police minister firmly believes that police shouldn't carry firearms. In an interview on Campbell Live she said 'officer's wondering around with guns on their belts when they are doing school programs, that's not they style of policing we want in New Zealand.' She then goes on to say that 'the police are the second most trusted organisation'

TV3S Campbell Live Interview^

Carrying guns in a holster on the hip is still not routine for New Zealand police officers - but don't ask to see what's under their armpits or in their car boots

Senior officers have weapons locked in the boots of their vehicles in case they need to hand out guns to staff in an emergency. These officers include emergency response police, Crime Investigation Bureau staff, dog handlers and some rural police.

having just left the growing police state that is the US--with the local small town police forces becoming increasingly "militarized"--and the police becoming overtly brutal, I certainly hope that the NZ police do NOT become armed.

Our system here works wonderfully as it is now. The police are friendly and helpful. They are approachable. They are there to serve.

Contrast that to what has happened in the US.

Part of the reason we moved here is because the police are NOT armed.

If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it!

totally agree - guns are lethal and don't protect -they kill when used, and they change the way a person relates when in their possession. NZ needs to avoid the dreadful mistakes of so-called advanced western democracies, not copy them.

The police minister Judith Collins says that "it inevitable that police will closer access to guns..." she than goes on to say that "by the middle of this year more rural police will have access to gun locked in there cars...'

The police union now says in a interview with 1 News that 'police officers now need the ultimate protection at there hip' after a police officer was attacked from behind with a machete. This means that the police union wants all police to carry fire arms at there hip. The prime minister is not so keen saying that 'it will affect the relationship between the public and the police'. The head of the police union then replied that 'sadly it has already got to that stage'.

It is inevitable that police officers' access to firearms will increase, Prime Minister John Key says.

However, he questioned whether it would make them safer, saying individuals would still have to make the call to "take that gun out of their holster and, ultimately, whether they use it".

Answer 2

There are several opinions surrounding this, but currently New Zealand Police do not carry firearms when on patrol. Instead, they carry batons and pepper spray.