Page 17 - Top Cover Issue 18

SUMMER 2023 TOP COVER 17

WHEN A TRIAL BECOMES A TRIAL

So, I hear you say, how many armed
response vehicles do they have to
manage? Answer, none.
Between October 2019 and April
2020 an Armed Response Team trial
took place in three areas in New
Zealand. This was in response to the
Christchurch mosque shooting and
its effect upon both public safety and
officer safety concerns following the
incident. The trial was designed to
assess if the teams influenced public
safety, and the feeling of safety both
within the community and the police.
In the Armed Response Team Trial
Evaluation report limitations were
acknowledged that the timeframe
was too short to adequately assess the Picture © Sheryl Watson / Shutterstock
effectiveness of the teams in terms of
their impact upon the objectives of
the report. The metrics against which
the teams were measured did not, and
Policeman silhouetted in front of the Masij El Noor as they stand guard at the
could not, take into effect performance Memorial Service to remember the victims of the Christchurch shootings
as the trial period was too short. the community groups that would be
“ Less than two months after the trial of ARTs more likely to be adversely affected by
the ARTs. These things, coupled with
had ended, in a suburb of Auckland, Constable
the increased media interest in the trial
Matthew Hunt was shot and killed by an armed
led to NZ Police Commissioner
offender during a routine traffic stop. potentially influencing public opinion,
Andrew Coster stating that ARTs will
not form part of the New Zealand
During the trial period the use of A national survey was conducted policing model for the future.
force by the teams was noted as being a at the conclusion of the trial period Less than two months after the trial
rare occurrence. There were no firearm with 574 participants, of whom 72% of ARTs had ended, on 19th June 2020
discharges at all by the teams, and only generally supported the trial. Despite in a suburb of Auckland, Constable
four recorded presentations of weapons the survey being representative Matthew Hunt was shot and killed
(a Glock was presented on one nationally, it was noted as having a by an armed offender during a routine
occasion, and M4 on three occasions). low response rate. This meant that no traffic stop. His was the first police
The average response time was eight real conclusion could be taken from officer death on duty since 2009.
minutes, and 82% of officers reported the survey of the trial’s effectiveness Matthew’s colleague was also shot and
that they felt much safer when Armed on perceptions of safety and public seriously injured. Matthew was 28
Response Teams (ARTs) were present. confidence, mainly because there was years old and had two years and eight
Overall, 83% of frontline officers no baseline survey conducted prior to months’ service when he was murdered.
reported that incidents were dealt with the commencement of the trial.
more efficiently with ARTs present, Furthermore, the report concluded Routine arming?
and a further 52% of frontline officers that there was not enough consultation Periodically the question arises
felt that incidents were effectively de- with Māori and Pasifika community whether all NZ Police officers should
escalated due to the presence of ARTs. groups who were identified as being be routinely armed, or whether there is

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