Residents protest at arming of police

Dozens of South Auckland residents have railed against the “Americanisation” of the police force, fearing the number and scope of armed groups of police officers will slowly expand until it becomes normalised.

Police plan to station members of the armed offenders squad in Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury as armed response teams, in a six-month trial to reduce response times to firearms callouts.

About 60 protesters gathered in Manukau Square on Saturday. Speakers said the plan was dangerous, and having more armed officers will exacerbate negative outcomes for Ma¯ori, Pasifika and migrants.

“This is absolutely a step towards the militarisation of the police,” said Emilie Ra¯kete, a founder of People Against Prisons Aotearoa.

“When we look at similar armed police patrols in other countries, we see that there is a ‘creep’ in how they’re used — from just being an emergency response to be used in some circumstances, to being used [for] routine search warrants.

“When that happens, we see a massive escalation in how many people are killed by the police.”

Ra¯kete said it was also undemocratic and the decision to “fundamentally” change policing in NZ was made without anyone voting for it.

“Armed police patrols mean people being killed by the police, and that will mean Ma¯ori people.”

Julia Whaipooti told the crowd many did not see the police as a beacon of safety, and having more around will make them feel less safe.

“Stop the militarisation of the police,” she later tweeted. “Eight times more likely to use a Taser on Ma¯ori. Who will they use their guns on?”

The protesters also said it was unnecessary, as gun crimes had been falling over the past six years.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson raised concerns not only as a politician, but also as a mother.

She has asked to meet Police Minister Stuart Nash so she can be assured people will be kept safe. “The evidence is very clear: arming police has never led to less violence.”

Speakers were also frustrated the Police Commissioner used the Christchurch mosque attacks on Muslim worshippers as part of the rationale behind the move.

Police said it was about the safety of the public and officers. They said in the past six months, firearms were seized and surrendered in 40 per cent of firearm callouts — about 1200 guns.

“Our people do an amazing job in keeping our communities safe [but] we must recognise that the environment has changed and police’s capability and resourcing needs to reflect this,” said Deputy Commissioner John Tims.

The armed response teams will be made up of members of the armed offenders squad, ready to travel to callouts with “significant risk” more quickly. They will carry Glock pistols and Tasers, and rifles will be in locked boxes in the vehicles.

The three areas in the six-month trial have had some of the highest numbers of firearms seized and surrendered. After six months a decision will be made whether to continue and expand the trial.

Nash said the decision did not mean the police were moving to routine frontline arming.

Armed police patrols mean people being killed by the police, and that will mean Ma¯ori people.

Emilie Ra¯kete, protester