Critics of the taser need to look at the increasing violence against police and how effective the taser has been, Police Association president Greg O'Connor says.
Mr O'Connor said the incident in the Bay of Plenty where 14-year-old youths fired shots at pursuing police, is typical example of offenders' increasing readiness to "have a go".
"Over recent years there has been an escalation in the violence against police by offenders and those critics whipping up hysteria against the issue of tasers must take note of this increasing trend," he said.
He said people who were critical of police carrying tasers should look at the two incidents at the gunshop in Penrose, Auckland and in Lower Hutt recently.
"These are perfect examples of where dogs and pepper spray were considered ineffective under the circumstances and the taser has proven to be invaluable in preserving lives," he said.
He said recent surveys commissioned by the Police Association show most police wish to remain unarmed.
"Police need an effective, less than lethal, capability like the taser and those who put the wellbeing of criminal offenders ahead of the welfare of both victims and the police officers attending the call out, have their priorities completely wrong."
Mr O'Connor believes the taser pilot will be a success as a 'less than lethal' option for police, stopping violent offenders from doing harm to themselves, their victims and the police attending the call out.
"In two of the most recent cases where the taser actually had to be discharged, at the gunshop in Penrose and in Lower Hutt, you have perfect examples of where dogs and pepper spray were considered ineffective under the circumstances and the only other option would have been to shoot the offender.
"The taser has not only preserved the life of the offender in each of these cases, but it has also avoided the inevitable trauma suffered by a police officer, when they have been forced into the unenviable position of having to take a life," he said.
He said the taser has been drawn more than 100 times during the pilot but once the offender has been warned and laser pointed, the vast majority have backed down. The taser has only been used about 15 times, he said.
"We also believe it imperative that the judiciary give significant weight in sentencing, where offenders have used violence toward police officers," he said.
Minister of Police Annette King said the Government had increased the penalties for violent crime by introducing longer sentences, and this was just one of the actions to deal with violence against police.
"Any incident of violence against police is a serious crime as far as I am concerned," she said.
Ms King said she will wait for the outcome of the trial before judging if tasers are appropriate for use by New Zealand Police.
"Our police are generally unarmed, but they perform their duties very well. Because police are unarmed, criminals are also generally unarmed."
She said the Government is adding 1000 extra sworn police over three years (and 250 extra non-sworn staff) under its confidence and supply agreement with the New Zealand First party.
Campaign Against the Taser spokesperson Marie Dyhrberg said in a press release that there was no evidence to suggest that violent assaults on police have increased.
She said figures from police reports show that assaults on police involving weapons of any kind, including firearms and stabbing or cutting weapons, have dropped, from 97 in 1996/97 to 84 over 2005/06.
"Whipping up hysteria about increasing violence against police is not going to improve policing in this country to the benefit of all New Zealanders," she said.
Stab proof vests, properly fitted and distributed, are one example of a measure that can be taken which would protect police without compromising their integrity, she said.
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