By Angela Beswick
The shooting of a cop on routine patrol in South Auckland in the early hours of Tuesday morning has prompted calls for consideration of harsher sentences for those convicted of attacks on police.
High profile criminal lawyer, Barry Hart, is against the idea - saying they are already dealt with more harshly than those who attack anyone else.
However Police Minister Judith Collins is backing harsher penalties. She says there is an increasing disrespect for the law from a small sector of the community, "who think it's fine to take pot shots at our officers".
"The police represent the rule of law in New Zealand," she says.
"They are not simply the individuals, they represent something much bigger than that, and I think it's absolutely important that we, in upholding the rule of law, acknowledge that and give them their due respect."
Mr Hart says the Minister's suggestion is hasty and unnecessary.
"It's a knee-jerk reaction. There is adequate framework in terms of charging - I personally don't think it's necessary".
But spokesman Jonathon Krebs says the Law Society is backing Ms Collins' call.
"Police officers help us sleep better in our beds at night. I think the public should respect that, and the people that challenge that safety should be subject to greater penalties."
Constable Jeremy Snow, 28, was shot three times - once in each leg and once in the elbow - as he and a colleague approached a car with its hazards lights flashing. One round hit his femoral artery, causing heavy blood loss.
Three firearms were later discovered by the police - a shotgun, a rifle and a high-calibre pistol.
A 28-year-old man appeared at a special hospital court sitting on Wednesday charged with the attempted murder of a policeman.
The man, who has interim name supression, was remanded to appear in Manukau District Court on January 12.
He was admitted to Middlemore Hospital after receiving police dog bites during his arrest after the incident in Papatoetoe about 4am yesterday.
Police said they wanted to speak to another man in connection with the incident.
He was Darren Thomas Court, 43, for whom there were outstanding arrest warrants over unrelated matters.
Detective Inspector Mark Gutry said Court was believed to have been at the Buckingham Cr address at the time of the shooting.
3 News