Minister rules out arming all frontline police

Frontline officers already have much improved access to firearms thanks to the presence of Glock pistols and Bushmaster rifles in locked boxes in patrol cars. Photo / NZME.

New Police Minister Michael Woodhouse has ruled out arming all frontline police.

At the Police Association conference in Wellington this morning, association president Greg O'Connor reiterated the need for a rule change to allow all frontline officers to carry firearms in New Zealand.

Mr O'Connor said the incident near Paeroa last night, in which a man was shot after firing at police attending a domestic assault, further illustrated the need for armed police.

Mr Woodhouse said he was open to speaking to the association about giving guns to police, but he was yet to be convinced that there was a case for change.

"What's important to me is that the police have the tools readily available to them to defuse or deal with situations as they arise.

"And I think where we're at at the moment is the right place."

In a speech at the conference, Mr Woodhouse said his priorities in the police portfolio were introducing a child sex offenders' register and making progress on cracking down on gangs.

He would also continue the Policing Excellence programme, which focused on preventing crime and using the latest technology to help officers spend more time in the community.

Mr O'Connor also warned the minister that a falling crime rate would be unsustainable if five years of budget freezes were not reversed.

He said the Hawkes Bay region, which was already struggling with its police services, was about to lose nine more police jobs because of funding cuts.

Mr Woodhouse said all Government agencies were being asked to do more with less.

"I think police is a really good example of where it's not so much the amount of money put in, but how it's used and how productively deployed police are."