Guns for frontline police cars

Photo / APN

Every frontline police and traffic patrol car will soon have semi-automatic rifles and pistols in special lockable containers in the boot.

More guns are being bought and officers will get extra training after new police commissioner Peter Marshall signed the $6 million plan this week.

In his fourth week on the job, Marshall has brought more weaponry to the streets of New Zealand than any police commissioner - although he says there is no rise in assault numbers.

"I'm putting it there as a last resort should an extremely serious situation arise," he said.

Currently, most patrol cars do not carry firearms. This leaves officers who need guns having to wait for the arrival of senior officers who carry weapons in their vehicles, or for backup from a station.

"If we have these items, I don't see any point in them sitting in a police station. I'd rather have them in a mobile police station," Marshall said.