Dealing to public disorder

Police officers were attacked by an angry mob that threw missiles, hurled abuse, turned over a car and threatened a local dignitary last month.

Police responded in full riot gear, deploying stun grenades at the height of the turmoil.

Extreme public disorder is rare but police must be ready to respond. Photo: Penny Clevely, RNZPC

It all took place on the parade ground at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua, and was part of a programme to rebuild Police’s capability around public disorder.

Police responders were among more than 90 staff attending courses on public order policing (POP) over two weeks in May.

The mob was made up of around 80 other staff, friends and family.

Events of extreme public disorder are rare in New Zealand, but when an Undie 500 or Queen Street riot kicks off, police must be ready to respond, says Inspector Jason Ross, Policing Support Manager with Operations Group at PNHQ.

Public order policing teams (also known as team policing groups) previously operated in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and a handful of smaller towns but their training and tactics varied across districts.

“We want to achieve national interoperability so everyone has the same equipment, training and governance structure,” says Jason.

The POP work is part of the Enhanced Operational Service Capability (EOSC) programme to improve staff safety.

EOSC includes a major project to improve accessibility and availability of firearms and Tasers to staff in operational roles. “This means staff will be empowered to decide which tactical option to deploy, based on the risks confronting them,” says Jason.