Police patrol armed

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 1

Police patrol armed

Detectives on night patrol in Christchurch carried a .38 calibre pistol, the acting District Police Commtnder (Mr E. G. Perry) confirmed yesterday. He was commenting on a story in “The Press” yesterday morning in which an Auckland barrister, Mr B. J. Hart, said that the public did not know the police carried guns. Mr Perry emphasised that the use of firearms was strictly controlled. It was usual procedure throughout New Zealand for detective night patrols to carry weapons. “As a matter of policy, members of the police force are not armed except for one C. 1.8. member of the two-man car patrol on night duty,” he said. Where it was considered that an offender might be armed, other policemen might also be issued with weapons as a precautionary measure. “This is done only on very good grounds." He said: “Firearms are only used when a member has immediate fears for his safety or the safety of others.” They might also be issued immediately after an armed robbery or other firearm offence. Often Armed Offenders Squad members might be present with a firearm, although they might not be in uniform.