The prime minister, the police minister and the police commissioner all remain firmly against the general arming of police, despite 73 percent of frontline officers favouring the move.
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Police officers are considering protest action after negotiations over a new pay agreement hit a brick wall.
Police Association president Chris Cahill says members are hamstrung by the government s lack of support.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Police Association president Chris Cahill sent a letter to members this afternoon updating them on pay negotiations, which have been running since May.
He said police have cancelled the past two weeks of negotiations because they have had nothing to bring to the table. It seems police s hands are restricted by what the government is prepared to fund, Cahill told members. We would have expected greater respect and acknowledgement from the government for the role of police staff and the challenges faced over the past few years.