Armed police patrols alarm south Auckland Greens

Greens co-leader Marama Davidson is concerned at a police plan to have roving patrols of armed police.

In a bid to cut down response times to serious incidents involving firearms, the police want to send members of the Armed Offenders Squad out in special vehicles to patrol parts of Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury.

Ms Davidson says it is well established that the police and justice systems are biased against young Māori and Pasifika males, and more armed police on the streets could put them at greater risk.

She’s concerned about what it will mean for her community in South Auckland.

"What we know makes for safer communities is making sure people have enough incomes, have warm homes, have good healthcare, have a solid education that uplifts who they are and have their identity affirmed and their mana upheld. These are the things we should be spending time and money on," Ms Davidson says.

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