Batons for fisheries staff

Fisheries officers are being offered retractable batons by their union to defend themselves against aggressive fishing offenders.

Last month, the National Union of Public Employees, which represents fisheries officers, said the staff had been advised to wear stab-proof vests and take other precautions because they faced threats daily.

Union secretary Nadine Marshall said anger over the foreshore debate had been focused on officers.

They were reportedly warned to work in pairs after Tino Rangatiratanga spokesman Ken Mair said they should be barred from beaches.

Mr Mair denied his comments were meant to incite violence, but went on to say that it would be "responsible" for the union to advise members not to go onto the foreshore.

The Ministry of Fisheries said yesterday that its 120 or so fulltime employed fisheries officers had not been issued with ministry batons. And it warned that those who did elect to carry batons would be personally liable for their actions.

The baton issue does not affect about 260 honorary fisheries officers who patrol the coastline and are trained to back off from aggressive situations.

But the union's acting secretary, John Kerr, said yesterday that it was offering the retractable batons to permanent fisheries officers who could offer only open-handed self-defence against aggressive offenders.


The ministry decided in October 2002 that for the safety and health of officers they would carry batons and pepper spray. But Government approval has not yet been given.

Mr Kerr said the union had decided to take the initiative.

Under the Crimes Act, fishery officers were allowed to carry defensive weapons such as batons if they had a reasonable excuse, such as a specific threat.

The union told the ministry of its intentions yesterday morning but the ministry responded in the afternoon to say it was against policy for its officers to use batons.

National compliance manager Dave Wood said it was recognised that fisheries officers did get into threatening situations from time to time.

The ministry took its employment obligations seriously and had taken a number of initiatives to train and equip staff. "Legal advice is that the law would have to be changed before fisheries officers could use batons in the course of their duties," Mr Wood said.

"No decision has yet been made to proceed down this path."

Officers had been advised that the ministry would accept no liability if they elected to carry batons, and would be personally liable for their actions.

Examples in the past month of attacks on fisheries officers have included an attack on the Hauraki Gulf by a man with an oar as three men tried to protect an illegal haul of up to 100 undersized snapper.

In another case an Opotiki woman was arrested and fisheries officers took her car after she allegedly threatened to kill one of them while they were carrying out routine checks.

Honorary fisheries officers have also said they are often abused or threatened with physical assault.

- NZPA