Policing by Consent

It is believed that an armed police force interacts in society differently from an unarmed police force Little is known about how the change to an armed force will affect the relationship between the police and the public. This study identifies these issues by studying the police of England and Wales, Norway and Sweden. Prominent themes emerged including the importance maintaining a high level of police legitimacy. The use of firearms by police is influenced by departmental policy and their independent perception of the degree of risk they face. The main conclusions drawn from this research were that it was not likely a barrier would emerge between the police and public nor was there likely to be a significant impact on the police’s ability to police by consent. However routinely arming might lead to a reduction in police safety as officers may be more inclined to engage in dangerous situations.

Recently there have been calls to change the New Zealand Police firearm policy so that police officers are routinely armed at all times. It is believed that an armed police force interacts in society differently from an unarmed police force and little is known about how the change to an armed force will affect the relationship between the police and the public. The purpose of this study is to identify these issues by studying comparable jurisdictions and to predict how they might alter the strategic relationship between New Zealand society and police. The police of England and Wales, Norway and Sweden were compared. Prominent themes emerged from the study. For the police-public relationship to remain functional, the police must maintain a high level of police legitimacy. Legitimacy can be affected by the manner in which the police use firearms. The use of firearms by police officers is influenced by departmental policy and their independent perception of the degree of risk they face. The main conclusions drawn from this research were that it was not likely that a barrier would emerge between the police and public nor was there likely to be a significant impact on the police’s ability to police by consent if the police become routinely armed. However routinely arming the New Zealand police might lead to a reduction in police safety as officers may be more inclined to engage in dangerous situations."