Traffic handcuffs?

Press, 19 May 1981, Page 24

Traffic handcuffs?

PA Wellington_ Traffic officers may soon carry handcuffs to control violent motorists because of an apparent increase in the. number of traffic officers being attacked by drunken and drug-affected motorists. The proposal, which has been put forward by representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the State Services Commission, arid the Public Service Association, is being considered by the Government. The Government is also considering proposals to give traffic officers greater powers of arrest and the creation, of a specific offence of assault on a traffic officer.

The Secretary for Transport (Mr A. J. Healy), who has circulated the proposals to interested parties for comment, said that traffic officers were being placed in positions of unnecessary risk. The Ministry believed that a form of restraint such as

_ handcuffs would lessen the chances of injury in a situation where violence was used. Mr Healy said, “The diffi-. culty of controlling a violent offender en route to a police station, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved is a matter of real concern to the Ministry;” The Ministry accepted that traffic officers would need proper training in the use of? handcuffs and sound judgment would be needed in their use. < " Extending traffic officers’ powers of arrest would enable them to act more decisively in dealing with troublesome offenders. Traffic officers had the power to stop motorists and require them to give their name and details of , the vehicle’s owner, but they had no power of arrest when a motorist refused to comply. This was an anomalous situation. It was often while

waiting for police {assistance. that offenders developed an*' antagonistic and aggressive;attitude. •; The secretary-general of '.> the New Zealand Automobile ■; Association, Mr R. W. Lithgow, said that the hand-, cuffs proposal caused cons id-* enable concern. The associa-; tion would consider they matter at an executive meet-; ing in Christchurch on MayJ 27. ■ / Mr Lithgow said, “We have’ reservations in approving;' this very drastic step without? giving the matter further;consideration.” .‘ The association•• believed*, that the use of handcuffs byiv traffic officers should have? the approval of the Commis-; sioner of Police. The associa-> tion believed that a traffic' officer should be able to-; arrest drivers for refusing to - give detail's and it supported; the proposal that they should ;■ be able to arrest people itiT cases of assaults against [ traffic officers. {*‘7*