Media Release

For Immediate Release
20 September 2013

Incidents show offenders are already armed

Two more incidents in the last two days where fleeing drivers were found to be armed with handguns highlight the fact criminals are already armed, Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“Those who claim that arming police would spark an ‘arms race’ with criminals need to realise that criminals are already armed,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Last night in Waikato, a fleeing driver threatened an officer with a handgun and car-jacked the police vehicle.  On Wednesday in Counties-Manukau, a fleeing driver abandoned his vehicle, which was found to contain drugs and a loaded semi-automatic pistol.

“These sorts of incidents are now extremely common.  Front line police officers are encountering armed criminals in the course of their routine, everyday tasks on a regular basis,” Mr O’Connor said.

Mr O’Connor pointed out that criminals – especially those involved in the drugs trade – were generally arming themselves for protection against other criminals, rather than arming themselves against police.

“However, once armed, those offenders immediately pose a serious threat to the lives of police officers or members of the public who are unfortunate enough to run into them.  We have seen police officers tragically shot and murdered in these sorts of circumstances.  And for every death, we have had many more near misses: Jeremy Snow, shot in December 2009; Bruce Lamb and Mitch Alatalo, shot in July 2010; officers wrestling a pistol off a P-dealer outside a bar in downtown Auckland in May 2010; an officer grazed by a bullet during a routine traffic stop in June 2012; and in recent months we have seen offenders fire at police on two occasions, in Taranaki and Auckland, before themselves being shot.

“Officers confronted by an armed offender must have the opportunity to defend themselves and the public, especially when forced to work alone.  While access to firearms has improved in recent years, with weapons locked in vehicles, the reality is these incidents often unfold very quickly and unexpectedly.  Officers faced by these situations must have immediate access to a firearm, and be properly trained to use it.

“Equipping our police in this way cannot spark an arms race, because the criminals are already armed,” Mr O’Connor said.

ENDS

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