Page 19 - Top Cover Issue 18

SUMMER 2023 TOP COVER 19

I generally lose very badly and end
up recovering Nerf bullets for days
afterwards. My point is I’m not trained
and even if I was, I wouldn’t change my
mind. It’s not my thing. So why should
it therefore be assumed that everybody
who joins the police service would
automatically feel the same?
In the NZ model, everybody who
joins will be trained in the use of
firearms and lethal force. Officers here
do carry Tasers openly as they do in
the UK. However, Taser use figures are
harder to come by, I suspect because
the use of it has become so ubiquitous
that it no longer needs a news story to Picture © JNZ Police
highlight it. In other words, there are
aspects of policing that not everybody
The funeral of 28-year-old Constable Matthew Hunt, who was unarmed when
who joins wants to try, and to my
he was shot and killed in June 2020
mind, firearms should be no different.
I strongly suspect that there are a few tentative go, although I highly doubt been given a weapon to use and feel
officers who have no wish to work in that I will be able to hit anything other eternally grateful that my experience of
Professional Standards, but there are than fresh air! But when I do, I shall policing did not include that scenario.
others who might enjoy that role. think of those who volunteer to hold I pray that here in New Zealand
My husband was given a “bug-a-salt” weapons, be they part-time like here in sense will prevail, however, my fear is
for Christmas. If you don’t know what NZ or full-time in the UK. that it will take another tragic death
one is, Google it, you’ll be clicking ‘buy It is their dedication to train and of a serving officer, just like Constable
it now’ before you know it! It looks like maintain their skills to a standard Matthew Hunt, to change minds.
a gun, there’s a cool pump action bit, that means they are fully competent Constable Hunt’s killer was
and it fires salt at unsuspecting flies. and confident to use those weapons if eventually jailed for life with a
It obliterates your average house fly needed in situations so grave that life minimum non-parole period of 27
at close range. You can even buy laser itself is at stake. years in July 2021. He admitted
sights for the top of them! I shall also think of that one murdering the officer, and was also
It’s quite a contraption and the hit colleague who would cause nothing found guilty of the attempted murder
of our Christmas 2021. I shall give it a but misery to others if they had of Constable David Goldsmith.
Matthew Hunt was unarmed, and was
shot in the back; he was just 28.
The Armed Offender Squads were
set up following the murders of four
officers in 1964. Isn’t it time policing
acted proactively to protect its own,
rather than wait for sorrow?

Picture © Jon Paul Photo / Shutterstock served with the
Emma Owens
Met Police for
21 years before
emigrating to
New Zealand in
2016. She was
the Vice-Chair of the Met Federation
before leaving and keeps a keen
interest in all things policing, both in
New Zealand Police officers routinely carry Taser and all are firearms trained,
but the service has no full-time specialist firearms units the UK and NZ.

WWW.PFOA.CO.UK