Police are reassuring Flaxmere residents their latest training exercise in the suburb has not been in anticipation of a major crime wave, but because the town provides the ideal locations to test its armed offenders squad.
The squad held several training days each year as part of a national programme and the latest was held at Flaxmere College on Thursday afternoon.
Hastings District Council's Flaxmere ward councillor Henare O'Keefe said he was worried police had decided to hold the training exercise in the suburb because it often attracted negative media attention.
But the Head of the Hawke's Bay armed offenders squad Sergeant Bryan Smith said he wanted to make it clear Flaxmere was selected on its merits as an ideal location for the staff to train.
"The Flaxmere College was chosen because it gave the squad experience in a school environment and also in a built-up urban area.