THE local police union representative has backed statewide calls to allow officers to carry their weapons in courthouses in the interest of their safety.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Police Association yesterday criticised the Chief Magistrate and the Sheriff’s Office for continuing to prohibit police from carrying firearms and wearing appointments in NSW courts.
Association southern region executive member Mick Connor labelled the decision “ridiculous” and argued it wasn’t a century-old tradition as critics maintain.
“It is at (magistrates’) discretion and that’s where it should lie,” Mr Connor said.
Mr Connor described courts to be “pressure cookers” with past incidents reported in Wagga and more recently across the state.
The union maintains the issue, raised with the former Attorney General in October, is exacerbated by the current terror threat alert.