Police to routinely carry guns after rash of shootings

After a spate of shootings, police in Counties Manukau will routinely carry firearms until further notice.

Three shootings rocked tara in less than 10 minutes on Friday evening.

And one local said the outburst of violence was due to the Americanisation of local culture.

“It’s a drive-by culture now. And it’s normally by people from out of the ’hood,” he said.

Misguided youth had adopted a brash, arrogant culture from the United States.

“That’s the escalation of violence that has been going on the last few days. That’s the feeling of the people in the street.”

But the Ōtara resident, who lives near where one Bairds Rd shooting took place, wasn’t enthusiastic about police being routinely armed.

“We know right throughout the world when police start carrying guns around, people get a little bit angsty.”

After the three reported shootings on Friday, police were alerted to a shooting on Prestons Rd in the South Auckland suburb about 2.25pm on Saturday.

Then a firearm was discharged at a Bairds Rd property about 10.05pm that day.

Superintendent Jill Rogers, the Counties Manukau District Commander, said extra police from across greater Auckland would be deployed to the southern suburbs.

“Counties Manukau staff have temporary carriage of firearms in place as a precaution, which is being regularly reviewed,” she added.

“We know the recent firearms incidents in South Auckland this weekend have caused concern and worry in the community.”

Nobody was injured but police urged members of the public to come forward.

Rogers said people could phone police on 105 and quote file number 201121/6920 for Prestons Rd, or 201122/9508 for the Bairds Rd shooting,

People who wanted to provide information anonymously could call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.