This bloody Police gun trial manages to get worse by the week!

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This bloody trial of armed Police just manages to get worse and worse with every passing bloody week!

Firstly, it didn’t seem to have any clear internal direction as to what the trail was supposed to do.

Secondly there seemed to have been almost zero communication with the communities who were going to deal with the sharp end of this policy, DESPITE internal dialogue stating that was important.

Thirdly we find out that the bloody thing morphed into mass call outs way out of proportion to what the Armed Offenders Squad normally did over the same time frame last year!

Fourthly we find out they ended up pulling over people for bloody traffic infringements!

AND NOW

we find out that those most arrested were Māori???

Māori account for more than half of arrests by Armed Response Teams in trial

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During the six-month trial, the armed teams went to more than 200 mental health and suicide threat incidents, more than a dozen cannabis offences, and even checked how 17 businesses were adhering to pandemic rules.

About a quarter of all jobs attended were “3T” turnovers – a stop or search of a car or person. Bail checks, family harm incidents, arrest warrants and suspicious people or cars made up the remaining top five job codes.

Police today proactively released some data from the trial, after Commissioner Andrew Coster yesterday said the teams would not be re-started, following preliminary findings of an evaluation and consultation with community groups.

ARTs went to 8629 incidents over the six-month period – an average of 47 a day.

 

So a trial to arm Police that had no clear definition of success, that didn’t communicate with the the communities they would be policing, then the trial spirals out of control as a tactical response to firearms becomes a tactical response to anything, then we find out that threshold for action dropped as low as traffic infringements and now we find out Māori were  the main target of these roving armed groups!!!

How on earth could social policy as huge as arming Police manage to get to trail with almost zero oversight to any other agency or even basic discussion with the communities they are policing?

How could a trail that was supposed to lessen the response time for AOS morph into basic policing while armed to the teeth?

The fact that Māori overwhelmingly were the target of those roving armed forces only re-enforces every criticism thrown at this bloody stupid idea!

Again, it is simply astounding to me that social policy as huge as this managed to get to a trail situation  without any clear measurements or protections.

What the fuck happened here? Where is the Police Minister Stuart Nash to explain to the population how and why a Police trial as huge as this managed to get this far without any checks or balances?

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Nash is happy to front when the police get something right or when hes threatening licenced firearms owners but when things go wrong hes nowhere to be seen – “its an operational decision, nothing to do with me” etc. Hes a blowhard bullyboy and an absolute disgrace as a minister

  2. NZ Police culture is well known as being macho, racist, violent, and extremely self protective. Deliberate non accountability can now be added to that sad arse list of shame.

    And, after getting slapped down on the roaming armed units, are going for the consolation prize of “foam projectiles”. They claim these will never be used in protest situations, but as a substitute for lethal force. Now where have we heard that one before…yes, Tasers.

    In fact Tasers very quickly became compliance, punishment and torture devices, while “shoots to kill” proceeded unabated. The foam projectiles can actually cause gruesome injuries, and if cops widely have access they will be used.

  3. Exactly true and I hope you have noticed me saying so for some time:
    Police headquarters are doing whatever they wish with no apparent oversight.
    This started with the police association writing the new gun laws and selling them dishonestly to the public, a clear breach of separation of state and police, since then they walk all over their useless minister.
    Since when does the police association head Cahill get to publicly debate an MP (Davidson) on the armed patrols? Who works for who here?

    Notice the commissioner and a key deputy retiring before the findings of the royal commission in to Chch which is said to be highly critical of police – no responsibility taken by them.

    Make no mistake, without the BLM backlash, armed response teams would stay as there is “no evidence of any issue “ with them. Because they weren’t monitoring properly accidentally on purpose.

    We need clear separation of police from law making, clear law requiring government to give the green or red light on routine arming of police and extremely importantly, a new non biased organization to oversee and discipline police, the IPCA is a joke.

    Give us back our faith in the men and women who do that difficult job of policing us.

    Nash is an absolute muppet being led by the nose by a highly politicized upper police hierarchy serving themselves.

  4. “How on earth could social policy as huge as arming Police manage to get to trail with almost zero oversight”? It seems that the police saw an opportunity to do what they had always wanted, and seized it:

    “It was pitched as a response to the March 15 mosque terror attacks. Police commissioner at the time, Mike Bush, said “the operating environment had changed”. Police didn’t have to run the idea past the government as it was considered an operational move.

    The government however made its dissatisfaction clear, and the Greens continuously called for the trial to end.”

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018750081/why-armed-response-teams-struck-the-wrong-note-in-nz

    Nash either has to redefine the meaning of “Operational”, or resign as Minister of Police. If the Police are really that much of a law unto themselves, then the ministry is simply window dressing and a waste of time and money.

    As if too demonstrate how little has changed, present police commissioner Coster promptly suggested the use of the “less-lethal”terror weapons being used against the BLM protestors in the USA:

    “Just a day after the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced Armed Response Teams (ART) will be axed, he is now floating the idea of arming frontline police with what he calls “sponge bullets” instead.

    “Armed offender squads (AOS) in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch have had access to the weapons since 2013 and they were rolled out to all AOS units in 2015…

    [Rakete of PAPA responding] “The two most common forms are 40mm rubber-coated steel bullets – these were used for the pacification of Northern Ireland by the British Army – and, second of all, a lead buckshot which is fired out of a standard shotgun shell.

    “Both of these kinds of weapons are incredibly dangerous. They destroy organs, crush bones and kill.

    “In the last two weeks alone the American Association of Ophthalmologists – that’s eye surgeons – say that 14 people in the US have been blinded by exactly the kinds of weapons that Andrew Coster is proposing arming front-line police with in New Zealand. When we know that police institutionally discriminate against Māori and Pacific people, the idea of arming them with these is frankly completely out the gate.”

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/418704/sponge-bullets-suggested-by-police-commissioner-incredibly-dangerous-lobby-group

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/418735/sponge-bullets-no-immediate-plans-for-frontline-use-police-commissioner

    Now, Coster has since walked back his statement saying that there are “no immediate plans” to arm NZ Police (except the AOS & STG) with these weapons. But until that is no longer an Operational Matter for the NZP to decide for themselves as soon as they think no one is paying attention, I have little faith that it will not occur at a later time without ministerial approval or clear need.

    Why not take back the money that the NZP are all too willing to squander on toys that make them feel all badass and invulnerable? Social workers to help people in distress, rather than terrifying uniforms to point tasers at them? A core criminal investigation service would still be necessary, but one accountable to the Minister of Police with strictly prescribed operational protocols. Rather than an armed gang who looks after their own above all else. Or as the slogan goes:

    Defund the Police!

  5. Although Andrew Coster seems to be doing the correct things by Māori. In fact everyone should be pleased with how he’s transitioned I the role of Police Commisioner.

  6. This is long – it is my idea of an alternative policy that police should follow with different aims and approaches than they now follow.; these would be to help and better society as the first principle, and to work towards a peaceful, respectful, honest, law-abiding and harmonious society as part of that. And to limit and control violence from any person or group using controls or force as a last resort for protection of the public and self-protection.

    I think that police working with youth and getting them through those years when wildness of behaviour, lack of self-discipline and achievable goals for their future can lead to a life marred by juvenile behaviour.
    I see from one US study that community policing of the type that has been adopted there, mostly in the cities, is not regarded as really effective.  The dry statistics in the summary don’t indicate just how this CP was carried out, and how success was to be measured.     But there is talk about violent offending, and trying to limit that would require a change in culture of the locality of young people, and probably their parents.  
    But there is much that can be done on a commonsense basis with low budgets and small requirements for success so that a giant program that is expensive does not become the only option.    Then progress can be slow and contested, and end up with paralysis by analysis.   The tendency is to make grand targets that require large changes to be counted as success;  zero and halved etc. Planning and then monitoring the implementation and checking the outcomes immediately, should be recorded well, and go further to look at the participants’ activities and welfare after a year, and then three years.  Participants should have the chance to take part again and have another try if they wish and are prepared to make changes.
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673843.2019.1601115                   This UK report is very neolib based – cost-effectiveness, whether tackling youth crime should get precedence, references to professional research.   Intervention by a caring society would come from a different viewpoint – not ignoring these reports, but understanding that they are putting cost of policing, statistics on crime and annual budgets ahead of the basic need for improvement of society and particularly for the young.   If programs are carried out in known ways of usefulness, for improvement rather than eradication of the problem, and by people of good probity and experience.   Such people would expect respect for themselves and show respect in their communication and choice of program activities for the difficulties of the young people they work with.   Not too hard, not too soft, being pragmatic in rejecting those who demonstrate repetitive unacceptable behaviour.
    The right measures to limit negatives and encourage positives and self-respect in young people, along with skills in defence against verbal and physical bullying and denigration from their peers and the adults they mix with, would have a great effect on reducing statistics and save some young ones from starting off into a behaviour and thought pattern that would be the opposite to that leading to a satisfying, thriving life.
    I don’t think the idea of big data and targeting surveillance is a good societal intervention.   https://theconversation.com/police-are-using-big-data-to-profile-young-people-putting-them-at-risk-of-discrimination-96683
    This contains information and surveys on public opinion about crime in UK and says that most people are ill-informed about youth crime and youth justice issues.  Plural Policing: The Mixed Economy of Visible Patrols in England and Wales       https://books.google.co.nz/books
    I had the feeling that Celia Lashlie was on the right track.    She noticed that she was achieving good results, and was devastated to find that she had become terminally ill and so not able to continue her work on ‘breaking the cycle’.   There is a trust set up and others are trying to carry on.  Perhaps support for their work would be well placed energy for those caring about young people and the difficult future they face.
    Celia commented on a 2002-2009 government initiative that was not delivering results:    …the concept has been criticised by outspoken former prison boss and social commentator Celia Lashlie, who branded it “lip service”. “It’s a superficial response to what is societal issue.”    She said the current system failed to engage and work with parents and their children from a younger age.Ms Lashlie said she was not surprised by the poor attendance rates, given the high workloads of those involved.
    “You have a harassed police sergeant or a harassed social worker. Do they go to a meeting or do they go talk to little Johnny and his mother about the trouble he’s been getting into?”Celia’s last days.  The film that Amanda Millar made:   https://www.celiafilm.com/  and – https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105573733/new-film-captures-the-legacy-and-final-days-of-social-justice-campaigner-celia-lashlieFor those who are inspired by her – here are some ideas from the Celia’s Army website for people who want to do something real and helpful for society.    https://celiasarmy.wordpress.com/guiding-principles/An example of a boy from an orphanage (Barnados) who was helped by the police, and went on to acquire skills, work, and become a famous and loved author.  In the UK, Leslie Thomas, wealthy author who died in 2014, was orphaned when he was only 12 and his brother 9.    He was a lively lad and used to abscond at times, finally going into the nearest police station which would send him back after giving him some TLC and no doubt some advice.    Reading his obituary it shows how a bright kid with positive values can achieve a great life.    I am sure that others could achieve similar if they were encouraged as well as taught skills on how to manage themselves, their lives and work training.
    Thomas’ book ‘This Time Next Week’ about his early life:    Orphaned at 12, the author entered a Barnado’s home.   Doing a bunk was an accepted tradition. It was a calculated policy to surrender to the police at about midnight. In this way you ensured a sympathetic supper before going to sleep in the police station, and a beneficial breakfast the next morning before being returned to retribution.    https://www.abebooks.com/9780330107006/Time-Next-Week-Thomas-Leslie-0330107003/plp
    He flunked out of bricklaying school but did better in a journalism course. At the age of 17, he found a newspaper job in north London, first folding newspapers and then reporting.    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10814267/Leslie-Thomas-obituary.htmlLeslie Thomas  obituaries  died aged 83   2014https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-27308147https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10814267/Leslie-Thomas-obituary.html

  7. So they were sending armed police officers to suicide call-outs – is that so the person trying to commit suicide would have an extra option?!?!

    It’s like a really bad satire.

  8. Jacinda Mania seems to be a ‘Get out of Jail Free card’ for this Government..unfortunately a hefty price is being paid for this utter nonsense..

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