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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-29 Daily Xml
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POLICE HANDGUNS

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:24): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: There is no doubt that policing requires not only a legal system that reflects the values and needs of the community but also an effective and well-resourced police force with access to state-of-the-art equipment. The Rann government welcomes last week's announcement by Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Burns that South Australia Police will commence a trial of a new Smith & Wesson semiautomatic hand gun in selected policing areas from June this year. A key element to any successful trial and conversion to semiautomatic weapons would be the selection of an appropriate semiautomatic that would not compromise safety for the public and SAPOL personnel.

After extensive evaluation of a number of weapons, SAPOL has decided that the Smith & Wesson Military & Police (M&P) 40-calibre semiautomatic handgun is the most suitable for its officers, given its enhanced safety features, and 350 of these handguns will be trialled by the Northern Traffic Enforcement Section, the Far North Local Service Area and the Sturt Local Service Area. These areas have been chosen as they provide a range of conditions. For example, Far North and Traffic has exposure to harsh weather conditions, dust and dirt, whereas Sturt is a large metropolitan policing area.

Dependent on delivery, officers involved in the trial will commence a three-day conversion training course in late June. SAPOL's armourers will also be trained in service and maintenance. SAPOL will trial two models: full-size and a compact model for plainclothes members. Both models have been manufactured specifically for police use and, importantly, offer enhanced operational safety features. Pending the successful outcome of the trial, SAPOL expects to convert the entire operational workforce to the new models over the next two to three years.

Glocks currently being used by STAR Group officers still have a couple of years of life left; after this, the STAR Group will evaluate this weapon with any others that are on the market at the time. However, SAPOL's first priority on completion of the trial will be to convert the local service areas.

When designing the M&P series of handguns, Smith & Wesson carefully considered the needs of military and law enforcement from every conceivable angle. The M&P series is based on input from more than a dozen law enforcement agencies and military professionals. Designed to meet and surpass their needs of safety, performance and durability, the new pistol incorporates a number of unique features.

The most notable features of the M&P 40-calibre handgun are the three interchangeable grip straps that easily accommodate various hand sizes; a steel reinforced polymer frame; and an unparallel ergonomic design. The handgun also offers other distinctive features, such as a reinforced frame and stainless steel barrel and slide for durability; a passive trigger safety designed to prevent the pistol from firing if dropped; and a unique trigger mechanism, which eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm.

The full-size pistol has a capacity of 15 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Its features provide a superior level of performance and safety, both of which are critical in the day-to-day duties of our police officers.

Engineered exclusively with the police officer in mind, the M&P combines the latest in technological advancements with the continuing innovation of Smith & Wesson firearms. A review of the Smith & Wesson M&P 40-calibre by Paul Scarlata in a popular US law-enforcement publication, POLICE Magazine, states the following in respect of SAPOL's choice of handgun:

Well designed and constructed for tough duty, the new M&P continues the legacy of fine Smith & Wesson police pistols.

Over the next few weeks, I took the M&P to the range several more times, eventually running in excess of 400 rounds through it without a single failure to feed, fire, extract or eject.

If your agency is in the market for a pistol that exhibits all of the characteristics required of a police service weapon, I'd advise you to check out Smith & Wesson's new M&P. I feel confident in predicting that you will be suitably impressed.

A number of US police departments have already changed over to the M&P series of handguns. These include: Atlanta Police Department, Charlotte Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, New Hampshire State, New Mexico State Police, Colorado State Patrol, Columbus Police Department, and the list continues to grow. The following quote from a sergeant, located at the Columbus Division of Police, best sums up SAPOL's choice:

Trying to find a pistol to match the range of hand sizes of the 1,800 officers at the Columbus Police Department, along with ensuring accuracy, durability and the stopping power needed for police work, was a daunting effort. After an extensive evaluation of the various makes of pistols available, the M&P40 proved to be superior in all aspects.

It is a shame that the opposition does not support SAPOL's choice. It seems that the Liberal opposition thinks that it knows more about front-line policing than the Commissioner and his officers. Unlike the opposition, this government has full confidence in the Commissioner of Police. The choice of handgun is clearly an operational matter and should be made by experienced police officers, not politicians.

The opposition should know that the Commissioner of Police is best placed to determine what type of equipment is used by our officers and where police resources are placed. These matters have traditionally and appropriately been the domain of senior police, who are the only ones in a position to best make such decisions.

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