Police increase presence

A heightened, highly visible, police presence around the country has been a key message from Police Commissioner Mike Bush since the killings at two mosques in Christchurch.

The criminal investigation is the largest ever undertaken by New Zealand police in terms of the number of investigators that police, alongside specialists, have deployed.

Yesterday, Bush said there were more than 250 detectives and specialists across the country working on the investigation into the shooting.

The FBI, Australian Federal Police and partner agencies, were all working with police.

He said it was a ‘‘very comprehensive and wide reaching investigation’’. ‘‘We’ll reach into every corner to ensure that there are no further threats.’’

Bush said for weeks to come there would be high vigilance and high visibility from the police and emergency services partners ‘‘to ensure that everyone in New Zealand feels safe’’.

There were extra police staff in Christchurch, in various roles, and he emphasised that strong police presence would continue.

‘‘You will see a highly visible police presence on the streets, around your businesses, around your schools, and even in the air, right across the country.’’

The police presence across Canterbury and the country was ‘‘immense’’.