Police armed response teams trial raises fears Maori will be targeted
WELLINGTON: There are fears a sixmonth trial of police patrol vehicles carrying armed officers might mean Maori being targeted more than any other group.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced last week armed response teams (ARTs) would start patrolling Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury at the end of the month.
One of those teams was sent to Wairoa earlier in the week ahead of the planned trial following a shooting at a police officer’s house and the station there.
Some Maori, including the whanau of a man fatally wounded by police in 2000, are not convinced it will make their lives any safer.
Raewyn Wallace is still grieving over the loss of her son Steven, 20 years after he was fatally wounded by police in Waitara.
A senior constable fired four shots at the 23yearold, after he was approached by Steven holding a baseball bat and threatening to kill him.
An Independent Police Conduct Authority report later found police actions were justified, but his mother has never been satisfied with that decision.
Raewyn Wallace said she now feared that with more armed police on the streets, more people were going to die.
‘‘It’s very concerning. They’re already out of control. Give them a gun and they’re going to be more out of control,’’ she said.
‘‘How many people have been killed since Steven got killed by the police? And how many times have they been held accountable?’’
Lawyer Moana Jackson said it was very likely making arms more accessible to police would put Maori at greater risk of being shot than any other group.
‘‘I do acknowledge the efforts that the police have made to try and improve relationships with Maori, but at the same time, history and experience shows that the people who are most likely to be hurt or even killed by any escalation of police access to weapons is Maori.
‘‘I think that for Maori who think about this issue there will be some very real concern about this policy.’’
‘‘I think they should have, as they do in their current policy, access to arms when there is reasonable cause for their use. But to take the first step towards a much more readily available use of guns is, I think, is potentially dangerous,’’ Mr Jackson said.
The new teams will be based in the districts with the highest number of firearms seized, located and surrendered.
They will patrol the streets seven days a week, and will focus on firearm and weaponrelated callouts.
However, Black Power gang spokesperson Eugene Ryder said arming police would not make communities safer and, if anything, it would motivate firearms owners to carry weapons.
He said the policy was particularly concerning for Maori, who were already overrepresented in rates of incarceration and police pursuits.
In a statement, police said they were aware of the concerns people had about ARTs.
‘‘Police is aware that some people may have concerns about the deployment of ARTs. However, we must recognise that the environment has changed and Police’s capability and resourcing needs to reflect this.
‘‘Police expects the pilot will show that ARTs improve Police’s ability to respond to rapidly evolving situations with specialist skills and expertise, minimising risks and enhancing safety of all communities.’’
Feedback will be sought by police before deciding whether the armed response teams should be introduced nationally. — RNZ