Poll: DO WE NEED ARMED POLICE IN SPECIAL VEHICLES TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE?
Special police patrol vehicles carrying armed officers will start patrolling Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury as part of a six-month trial to cut down response times to serious incidents involving firearms.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush made the announcement in Manukau, Auckland yesterday morning.
The so-called armed response teams would be made up of police staff who are part of the armed offenders squad.
The armed offenders squad is normally on-call 24/7, but for the trial they would be routinely armed, equipped, mobile and ready to go to any events or incidents where they are needed, Mr Bush said.
Such teams were a standard feature of policing internationally, he said.
"The Police's mission is that New Zealand is the safest country. Following the events of March 15 in Christchurch, our operating environment has changed," Mr Bush said.
"The threat level remains at medium and we are continuously reviewing our tools, training, and capabilities we use to provide Policing services to ensure we remain fit for purpose."
The armed response teams would consist of a minimum of three specialist armed offenders squad personnel.
At times, they may be supported by additional staff, like specialist dog units.
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73.5% Yes, it's long overdue
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14.9% No
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3.7% Just a waste of money
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7.4% Don't know
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0.5% Don't care
Lest we forget...
On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.
Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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91.4% Yes
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8.1% No
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0.5% Other - I'll share below!
Have you heard about this Hamilton petition?
A group of Hamilton business owners have started a petition to stop the council from hiking up rates and passing the cost of what they say are unpopular projects on to residents.
It frustrates longtime residents Tom Andrews, a former roading engineer who owns Classics Museum and has property interests and Jo Reeder, to see Hamiltonians facing large bills.
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