Using Firearm Against Law Enforcement Officer

Question 1

Uses any Firearm Against Law Enforcement Officer

Sec 198A(1) Crimes Act 1961

14 years imprisonment

Answer 1

• Uses any firearm in any manner whatever
• Against any constable or any traffic officer or any prison officer acting in the course of his or her duty knowing that.
• OR Being reckless whether or not that the person is a constable or traffic officer or prison officer so acting

Question 2

Uses any Firearm Against Law Enforcement Officer

Sec 198A(1) Crimes Act 1961

14 years imprisonment

Answer 2

• Uses any firearm in any manner whatever
• Against any constable or any traffic officer or any prison officer acting in the course of his or her duty knowing that.
• OR Being reckless whether or not that the person is a constable or traffic officer or prison officer so acting

Question 3

Define ‘firearm’

Answer 3

a) Means anything from which any shot, bullet, missile, or other projectile can be discharged by force of explosive and

b) Includes
i) Anything that has been adapted; and
ii) Anything which is not for the time being capable of, but which, by its completion or replacement of any component, or repair of any defect would be a firearm; and
iii) Anything dismantled or partially dismantled; and
iv) Any specially dangerous airgun

Question 4

Police v PARKER

Answer 4

Use in any manner whatever is to contemplate a situation short of actually firing the weapon and to present a rifle too, I think, is equivalent to or means the same thing.

Question 5

R v SWAIN

Answer 5

To deliberately or purposely remove a sawn-off shotgun from a bag after being confronted by or called upon by a Police Constable amounts to a use of that firearm within the meaning of S198A CA 61.

Question 6

Define ‘against any constable’

Answer 6

Constable means a police employee who-

a) hold the office of constable (whether appointed as a constable under the Police Ac 1958 or this Act); and
b) includes a constable who holds any level of position within the New Zealand Police.

Question 7

Define ‘acting in the course of his or her duty’

Answer 7

The term includes every lawful act which a constable does while on duty,

Of note

and may include acts done where the circumstances create a professional obligation for a Constable to exercise policing duties while off duty.

However, an officer who is acting unlawfully, cannot be said to be “acting in the course of his or her duty.”(only if it relates to the scenario)

Question 8

R v HARNEY

Answer 8

Recklessness means the conscious and deliberate taking of an unjustified risk. In New Zealand it involves proof that the consequence complained of could well happen, together with an intention to continue the course of conduct regardless of risk.

Question 9

S198A(2) CA61 - Uses firearm to resist arrest

Answer 9

Everyone is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who
uses any firearm in any manner whatever

with intent to resist the lawful arrest or detention of himself or herself or of any other person.

Question 10

FISHER v R

Answer 10

It is necessary in order to establish a charge under section 198A(2) for

the crown to prove that the accused knew someone was attempting to arrest or detain him because otherwise the element of mens rea of intending to resist lawful arrest or detention cannot be established.