Level of threats 'high'

One in 10 police officers was threatened at least once with a firearm last year, a survey of Police Association members shows.

The survey, conducted by Nielsen, also found 67 per cent of general duties branch staff were threatened at least once with non-firearm weapons.

Eleven per cent were threatened at least once with a firearm.

Thirty-six per cent of association members who were threatened said they did not report the incident.

The survey was reported in this month's edition of the association's Police News magazine.

"The survey revealed that officers are facing not only high levels of threats, but also actual physical violence," the magazine said.

Eighty-six per cent of general duties staff were attacked once or more in the last year. A third of those were injured.

Police statistics for the past 10 years showed assaults on police had risen 27 per cent and assaults on police with weapons had jumped 72 per cent.

The survey found 93 per cent of police supported the use of electric stun guns, known as Tasers, and 75 per cent of the public also backed their use.

Police introduced the stun guns late last year after a year-long trial in Wellington and Auckland.

Superintendent John Rivers said in December officers would be required to justify why they were needed before taking one to an incident.

- NZPA