Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Police Association condemns criticism of police shooting

6 December 2019

Police Association condemns criticism following overnight Police shooting

New Zealand Police Association condemns comments made by People Against Prisons Aotearoa following the fatal police shooting of an armed man who had made threats of suicide.

Association President Chris Cahill says the reality of the situation is that police are the only responders available 24 hours a day to attend these sorts of situations.

“They are dealing with thousands of mental health emergencies every year and the vast majority end peacefully with the person receiving the care they need,” he said.

“In this situation that did not happen and I extend my sympathies to the family.

“The unfortunate reality is there will be circumstances in which people in mental health distress present a serious threat to themselves, their families, the public and police.

“Police are the only group able to respond in such circumstances and it is offensive for People Against Prisons Aotearoa to claim that if police can’t handle these situations without killing that person, they have no business being first responders,” Mr Cahill says.

“It is all very well for those who don’t have to be judged by their actions in responding to such extremely tough situations to criticise, but every day it is police officers who have to make these incredibly tough decisions and act.

“When police are involved in a suicide call-out, things have already reached a crisis point and that is a failure of the mental health system, not of police. These people need support earlier so they don’t end up in such interactions with police,” he says.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“When people in such crises are armed, the community expects police officers to attend and that’s exactly what they do. We should never believe it is easy for an officer to be in a situation such as that which unfolded in Kurow last night.”

Southern District Acting District Commander Darryl Sweeney has told media that because police believed the man had access to a firearm, officers had to be armed as a precaution, and they were subsequently confronted by the man with a gun.

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.