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National: Police had to pay to recover stolen guns

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Wed, 22 May 2019, 4:54PM
Alan James Harris was arrested over the theft of the guns. (Photo / Supplied)

National: Police had to pay to recover stolen guns

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Wed, 22 May 2019, 4:54PM

National’s gun spokesman says that Palmerston North police had to pay to get back eight stolen gens last month.

11 guns were stolen from a police station last month by Alan James Harris, who walked into the station  and broke down the door to the armoury.

All 11 weapons were recovered and Harris was arrested, but Chris Bishop told Heather du Plessis-Allan that a source has told him that up to eight of the guns that were stolen were paid for.

He says that he does not know who they paid or how much they paid for them.

“I have put into the public domain what I know, and I asked Police Minister Stuart Nash this afternoon in Parliament what happened and whether that did occur. I asked him that twice, and both times he refused to answer the question.”

Police Minister Stuart Nash says he won't be asking police about claims they've bought back stolen guns.

"I will not ask them about any murder case they are involved in, I won't ask them about shooting cases they are involved in. This is a police operational matter."

Bishop says that this will annoy licensed firearms owners. 

"I think this is deeply embarrassing for police and for the Government." 

Police have not yet responded to questions. 

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