Police Association calls for general arming of police

The 75th Annual Conference of the Police Association has endorsed a motion to support general arming of all sworn New Zealand police officers.

The decision came after Conference debated the issue, including considering the results of a survey of its members, and the general public, on attitudes to arming. That survey revealed a huge 72% of all Police Association members now support general arming of police with firearms when asked whether they support or oppose general arming of police. This compares to just 47% when asked the same question two years ago. With 58% support, a clear majority of the public also support general arming.

However, in recognition of the fact the arming debate has grown more complex since 2008, the 2010 survey, conducted for the Police Association by the Nielsen research company, also tested support for options giving better firearms availability short of general arming.

If there was no move to full general arming, virtually all members (95%) said they would support firearms being carried in every frontline police vehicle, while 88% said they would support permanent carriage of firearms by all field supervisors (sergeants and senior sergeants).

Finally, members were asked which option they most favoured. When presented with these options, 53% of all members (including non-constabulary employees and senior management) most favoured better firearms availability short of general arming, while 44% most favoured general arming. However, amongst those groups of police most likely to be unexpectedly confronted by an armed offender in the course of routine duties, there was a clear majority in favour of general arming. 57% of Road Policing staff (which includes Highway Patrol and others responding to emergency calls in remote locations), 52% of General Duties frontline response staff, and 52% of staff working in rural areas, favoured general arming rather than ‘better availability of firearms’.

The survey results should come as no surprise, said Police Association President Greg O’Connor.

“We have seen nine police shot in little over two years. Two of those officers, Len Snee and Don Wilkinson, were killed. There have been numerous other ‘close calls,’ such as the P dealer who pulled a gun on police in a downtown pub in Auckland in May.

“Shootings are no longer isolated incidents. Serious criminals are already carrying guns, and are increasingly ready to use them,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Even so, the decision now to support general arming is not a decision the Police Association has come to lightly. We are aware it is a major step for New Zealand Police. However, we believe changes in the criminality facing police today means general arming has now become an inevitability. We must not wait for a Cumbria-style massacre, where unarmed police are forced to look on, powerless to intervene, while members of the public or police are shot.

“The survey clearly shows police and public opinion is that the status quo is no longer an option. Moving to guns in lockboxes in all frontline vehicles would be a good first step, but ultimately it will not be enough.

“However, the survey was only one factor. The Conference is made up of very experienced police officers who understand policing and the concerns of the members they represent as delegates. There is a clear belief at the frontline, the sharp end of the policing business, that the time has come when we must move to general arming of New Zealand Police. Officers join the Police because they want to protect the public; but they also need to be able to protect themselves.

“In the words of one delegate, the very uniformed staff who actually have to face the realities of policing today – often alone, and often without immediate backup available – simply do not feel safe anymore. It is a matter of self-defence, and effective defence of the law-abiding public we are sworn to protect,” Mr O’Connor said.