Taranaki police have batons at the ready

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 10

Taranaki police have batons at the ready

PA New Plymouth Taranaki police on routine duty have long batons close at hand because of increasing violence, says the district commander. Mr Richard Newman, of New Plymouth. The procedure was common throughout New Zealand. he said. “The situations are very rarely one-to-one. and the fact that many occur at hotels or parties does not make it any easier to. deal with." Mr Newman said that the police were simply being prepared. “I speak out so that people will get the message and pull back from the edge of confrontation. The police cannot." Any policeman who used a long baton was accountable to his superiors for the circumstances surrounding its

use. he said. The batons were not on issue, but were carried in police vehicles and could be worn on the recommendation of an N.C.O. when policemen were required to protect themselves. This knowledge might cause people engaged in violence to realise that the police were not prepared to be “pushed around.” Mr Newman said. He could not pinpoint the cause of increasing violence which, he said, was rising throughout New Zealand. The police in Hawera and New Plymouth had experienced a greater incidence oi people ready to slip into violence to get rid of frustrations. Much of this was associated with alcohol consumption. which “lessened the inhibitions." said Mr Newman.