Terrorist threat level up, yet Government won’t arm police

The Government’s refusal to arm police means police officers are ill-equipped to defend themselves or others, whether from terrorists or other armed criminals, Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“It is ironic that yesterday, the Government was willing to raise the terrorist threat on the basis that an attack was possible, and yet refuses to consider arming police, when attacks from armed offenders are already a reality,” Mr O’Connor said.

“On Sunday in Waitakere, and on Monday in Otara, unarmed police on routine duties were confronted by armed criminals.

“The Police Association accepts the risk of terrorist attacks in our part of the world has increased, and agrees with raising the threat level. Recently two police officers in Australia were attacked outside a police station by a man proclaiming ISIS affiliation who apparently intended to behead them. The officers, who like all Australian police were armed, were able to protect themselves. Our Government sees the need to raise the terrorist threat level, yet refuses to arm New Zealand police to give them the same opportunity to defend themselves – whether from terrorists or other armed criminals,” Mr O’Connor said.

“As the Government recognises in lifting the terror-threat level, the threats posed to New Zealanders, whether from terrorists, organised crime, drug dealers, armed robbers and others, eventually mirror those faced overseas. The only difference is that our police, almost uniquely in the world, are ill-equipped to protect either themselves or the public from threats encountered on routine day to day duties.

“It is time to stop clinging to romantic notions of New Zealand as an idyllic 1950s backwater, face reality, and arm our police. It is simply time to do so,” Mr O’Connor said.

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