NZ safe, guns or not: FBI chief

By Eugene Bingham

The top United States criminal investigator says Apec leaders will be well protected in New Zealand with or without a law change giving foreign agents the right to carry guns.

Judge Louis Freeh, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, yesterday reviewed security preparations for this year's meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders.

At the same time, a parliamentary committee was considering legislation to boost the firepower of overseas bodyguards.

After meeting the Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley, Judge Freeh said he would not comment on whether the right to bear arms was necessary.

"What I am confident about is that the 21 heads of state who will be here ... will be well protected.

"As to that particular legislation, Parliament will reach the appropriate conclusion."

While he was happy with the security plans so far, he said New Zealand had to be on guard.

"I think that you could categorise [New Zealand] as a target of opportunity. Here, as in many other countries, there is a clear danger of targets being
chosen."

Judge Freeh also met the Police Commissioner, Peter Doone, and the head of the Security Intelligence Service, Don McIver.

Mr Doone said the police were keen for the legislation to be passed.

"We saw the need to have a framework to be able to consider the individual threats to individual delegations and to ensure that between the internal police and those delegations we had every security aspect covered," said Mr Doone.

Mrs Shipley said she had been glad to discuss Apec security arrangements with Judge Freeh.

"I certainly sought his advice on international terrorism risks."

Pictured: FBI director Judge Louis Freeh, surrounded by security agents as he left the Beehive. HERALD PICTURE / MARK MITCHELL