Gun, drug threats lift pressure on armed cops

Armed offender squad officers are increasingly accompanying police to call-outs. Photo / <i>Bay of Plenty Times</i>

Increases in methamphetamine-related crime, and criminals' increased willingness to use guns, has resulted in armed offender squad officers routinely accompanying general-duties police colleagues to call-outs.

Figures released to the Herald under the Official Information Act show AOS staff attended 789 jobs in the 2008/2009 financial year - a 68 per cent leap from the 470 call-outs of a decade ago, and 21 per cent up on the 650 call-outs of the 2007/2008 year.

And this year looks likely to be even busier - the AOS attended almost 500 jobs between July and November.

The current financial year ends on June 30.

Police national tactics groups commander Superintendent Bruce Dunstan said the arrival of methamphetamine - the drug group that includes P - had created "a whole new set of risk factors", and it appeared more people than ever before were carrying firearms, creating an "unwelcome formula".

"The offender becomes more violent. It is a big factor, it creates unpredictability.

"What we are finding now is that while an offender may be sought for a non-firearms related job, because he may be a methamphetamine user or gang-connected, there is a greater appreciation of the risks they present."

The focus of AOS work used to be emergency response, but it was now "about 60/40" in favour of pre-planned operations.

These included high-risk warrants and protection of witnesses, Mr Dunstan said.

Armed offender squads once attended call-outs only as a full unit, but now often sent two or three staff to help detectives.

The armed offender unit has 335 staff - five of whom are women - in 17 squads around New Zealand.

Attracting staff was easy, but the selection criteria were tough, Mr Dunstan said.

"It's not simply marksmanship qualities - we're looking for experienced policemen, we're looking for good decision-makers and people who can work in a team. There's a whole raft of factors."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the rise in the number of armed offender squad jobs showed the need for greater availability of firearms for police officers.

"It is that prevalence of firearms in the criminal fraternity that we have been speaking about for some time," he said.

The figures meant the AOS was stretched, putting added pressure on staff on the streets.

"It certainly goes back to what the Police Association is saying about the need to make sure firearms are more available to officers on the frontline," he said.

"I'm not saying arming, but making sure they [firearms] are available."

Mr Dunstan said AOS members received a modest allowance for being on 24-hour call.

"I'm sure many a wife would say it's not enough. These guys sacrifice a lot to make themselves available."