Steven Joyce scrapped a planned crackdown on professional car thieves despite support from the Justice Ministry and police.

The Police Minister says media reporting on police conduct has caused a drop in respect for the force.

The family of a man shot dead by a high-powered air rifle is welcoming a policy change that will see all those with such weapons requiring a firearms licence.

Gun killings in NZ have declined the most in an international comparison - even though it has less strict licensing laws than Canada and Australia.

An off-duty police officer has been cleared of allegations he dropped his pants and exposed himself to a mother and her young son.

Police are defending the effectiveness of Taser stun guns after they failed to subdue armed offenders in two separate incidents in the past week.

A narrow majority of people now favour the police carrying guns at all times.

Hundreds of police cars carry gun safes, and central Auckland officers draw weapons from their vehicles nearly twice a week.

Veteran police dog handler Bruce Lamb is still managing to maintain his sense of humour, despite losing his 'best friend'.

A decorated policeman who played a key role in putting RSA triple-murderer William Bell behind bars was let off after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

Three police officers are facing charges over allegations of assaults done on duty, including a case in which an alleged victim was injured so badly he lost a testicle.

The country's 8654 sworn police officers have been warned to beware of becoming corrupted with the growth of organised criminal gangs.

Knives, clubs, large rocks, bottles and an axe were recovered from the scene where a man become the first person to be tasered in the South Island.

The Police Association says the United Nations Human Rights Committee is out of touch, after it criticised police adoption of Tasers.

Three teenage boys were arrested last night in relation to a pack attack which left two police officers seriously injured.

A senior police officer has been accused of abusing their position after a friend complained about being delayed at a compulsory breath test.

Police Minister talks tough after one cop goes into a coma and another had his lip bitten off.