Muslims support armed police

When the Jamia Masjid mosque was fire bombed, Mohammed Afiz had a good idea of who the culprits were.

For weeks a group of men would routinely drive past, hurling racist insults out the car window, urging the worshippers ‘‘back to your own country’’.

That was two decades ago, before the mosque terror attacks in Christchurch, and at a time when ‘‘guns were not needed’’, Afiz said.

But if another attack happens, he would prefer police were armed and ready.

In three days, police armed response units will be deployed in three districts: south Auckland, Christchurch and Waikato.

The six-month pilot was a response to what Police Commissioner Mike Bush called a changed ‘‘operating environment’’ since the mosque shootings.

Bush cited ‘‘growth in organised crime’’ and the impact of methamphetamine-fuelled offending as factors justifying the new teams.

Despite growing concerns from leaders in the south Auckland community, Afize, a trustee for the Masjid At-Taqwa mosque in Manukau, said support for

armed police was widespread among the Islamic community.

And more so with the recent shootings in Germany.

‘‘I am always of the opinion that it’s nice to have something and not need it, rather than need something and not have it.

‘‘Police are here to defend everybody but if they can’t even protect themselves then how can they defend us?’’

Afiz said he can see how the introduction of armed police can be concerning for some, but he believes it’s the best way to protect the community.

In an earlier statement, Police Minister Stuart Nash, said the pilot would be closely monitored and the new project did not mean police were moving to routine arming.

Private investigator and former detective Tim McKinnel, said while armed police are necessary in emergencies, he doesn’t believe roving teams belong in communities.

He also questioned the justification for their introduction.

‘‘You look at those terror-type attacks globally and they’re used to introduce new draconian laws and processes – I think we should be better than that.

‘‘If on the evidence there is a case – and it shows we need these types of things – then perhaps we have to accept that as a society we need them.

‘‘But the argument that was mounted, and particularly around March 15, was particularly weak given the way they have commended themselves – and quite rightly – on how police responded.’’

‘‘Police are here to defend everybody but if they can’t even protect themselves then how can they defend us?’’

Mohammed Afiz