Police are targeting a small list of disqualified drink-drivers who have offended at least three times.

Police are still appealing for sightings of a van seen in the area early on the morning when Lachan Kelly-Tumarae was fatally shot by police.

A post-mortem examination has found the 19-year-old shot by police in rural Hawkes Bay yesterday died from a gunshot wound.

It is inevitable that police officers' access to firearms will increase, Prime Minister John Key says.

More police should have access to handguns while on routine patrol, says Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

All police chases which led to a record 14 deaths this year were sparked by minor offences, rather than serious crimes, figures released to the Herald under the Official Information Act reveal.

A 10-year-old boy says he would have died without the brave actions of an off-duty police officer who pulled him from a burning wreck.

The latest deaths brought the total this year to 16, from 11 fatal pursuits - the worst on record.

A victim of several burglaries says he now pauses before asking the police to investigate because it takes them too long to respond.

An ex-cop has blasted police for their response time to burglaries which, he says can leave victims waiting for long periods.

Detectives are trying to piece together the secret life of a police officer who was stabbed to death in his home last weekend.

A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of an off-duty police officer.

An off-duty police officer stabbed to death in his own home appears to have known his attacker but police will not comment on whether the accused killer was a relative.

Cops are being told "anything goes" when it comes to protecting themselves against dangerous and violent offenders.