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'.

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.

Police racked up more than $2.5m of charges on business credit cards last year, including stays at luxury hotels, restaurant dinners and taxi rides.

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

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.

The $1.5 billion methamphetamine industry has enabled crime kingpins to spread their influence "into the nice end of town", the Police Association says.

A hospital bedside hearing is being held today for the man accused of shooting a South Auckland police officer.

Police Minister Judith Collins has made a commitment to addressing any problems an inquiry into police handling of child abuse cases finds.