KEY POINTS:
The Police Association has released a wish list which includes the issuing of Tasers, more police officers and lowering the age of criminal responsibility.
The group represents 10,000 police officers and support staff.
President Greg O'Connor released the document, Towards a Safer New Zealand, at a breakfast function hosted by police minister Annette King at the Beehive this morning.
The document also asks for the UK style Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and enabling local communities to impose temporary curfews.
The document is the first of its kind released by the association and although 2008 is election year, Mr O'Connor writes in his foreword that it is not an "election document" and that the association supports "policies not parties".
It says issuing Tasers to frontline staff would fill the gap between pepper spray and lethal force if a police officer was threatened.
"Officers desperately need an intermediate option, with the power to reliably incapacitate an offender with minimum risk of injury to the officer, the public, and the offender themselves," the document says.
The trial of the weapons in Auckland and Wellington ended last year. A decision on whether to adopt the Tasers is due to be released by police within two months.
The document also argues for an increase in police numbers.
It provides Australian and UK statistics that show New Zealand has a ratio of one sworn police officer per 510 people while Victoria has one officer per 459 and New South Wales one per 451.
"Every Australian jurisdiction has a considerably more favourable ratio than New Zealand, and overall Australia has one sworn police officer for every 415 people," the document says.
It argues for a ratio similar to Queensland due to the state's urban and rural split and total population. The ratio in Queensland is 1:424.
The association is also seeking to reopen the debate around youth offending.
"Unfortunately, the debate is clouded by ideological prejudices of many of those involved, for example those who see moves to combat youth crime as demonising all youth, eroding youth rights, or condemning young offenders to lives of crime."
The document says that youth crime is following the same trend as adult crime and while overall offending is not increasing, violent crime is.
It argues for an extension of powers to the Youth Court which includes increasing the maximum lengths of Youth Court supervision orders.
It also argues that the Youth Court should have the jurisdiction to deal with 12 and 13 year-olds.
- NZHERALD STAFF
