They look like characters out of Hollywood movie Robo Cop.
But forget the movie blockbusters - they are the newly clad Northland police officers kitted out in the latest protective equipment for controlling public disorder.
Two teams have been trained in Northland and will be at Toll Stadium for the Rugby World
Cup next month when Tonga, Japan and Canada take to the pitch.
The officers will not be patrolling in the black light-weight gear.
But at the sign of any riot or mass public disorder they will quickly don the personal protection equipment.
Sergeant Tai Patrick is in charge of training the Northland police troops after he spent two weeks at the New Zealand Police College in Porirua learning the drills.
The protective equipment is being rolled out across the country and yesterday a Whangarei squad of six had their first taste of how to put on the gear.
New helmets were complete with a neck guard and a visor made of hardened polycarbonate.
Each officer carries a baton and a shield. When called into action they will be expected to slip into the padded lightweight gear covering the shoulders, arms, groin, thighs, shins and boots in seven minutes or less in the daylight and less than 10 minutes in restricted lighting.
They also had to pass a running test wearing the gear.
The units trained to use the equipment have been dubbed police support units - there is one in the Mid North and the other in Whangarei.
Mr Patrick said the units were usually called in to jobs like seizing stereos, pub visits, closing down parties or extracting prisoners from cells when they were less than willing.
More support squads will be trained after the Rugby World Cup.
