Eyeing US, New Zealand drops plans for armed police patrolsNew Zealand police usually operate without firearms but trialled armed patrols after a lone gunman murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch in March 2019. WELLINGTON: New Zealand police on Tuesday scrapped plans for armed patrols prompted by last year's Christchurch mosque shootings, after criticism the change would lead to a US-style militarisation of the force. Police in the South Pacific nation usually operate without firearms but trialled armed patrols after a lone gunman murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch in March 2019. Coster announced Tuesday that the armed patrols would not continue, saying police had listened to feedback from the community. Policing methods worldwide are under the spotlight after African-American man George Floyd was killed while being arrested in the United States, sparking civil rights protests around the globe.

Source: Bangkok Post June 09, 2020 05:48 UTC