Key: All frontline staff will get Tasers

John Key will attend the funeral of slain police officer Len Snee. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Funding for the roll-out of electric stun guns to frontline police officers will be included in the Budget, Prime Minister John Key said yesterday.

Mr Key confirmed funding for frontline officers to get the less-than-lethal weapons is included in the Budget.

The government will also consider gun control measures.

While some officers already have the guns, commonly known as Tasers, in its wish-list to the new government last year police asked for enough funding for all frontline staff by July 2010. Yesterday, the Police Association called for this to be sped up after the Napier shootings.

Mr Key, who will attend the funeral tomorrow of Senior Constable Len Snee, said the Government would also consider whether new gun control measures are needed.

Killer Jan Molenaar had an armoury of unlicensed weapons.

"I think there is genuine concern about the widespread retainment of arms on an unregistered basis by New Zealanders, but whether it is possible to control that situation is difficult," said Mr Key.

He said most of those with unregistered firearms were in breach of existing laws and it was difficult to see what more could be achieved.

"But that's something in the fullness of time I would expect the police minister to look at."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor told Radio NZ he hoped the Napier shootings would show those opposed to Taser use that police did need more tools at their disposal.

Mr Key said he did not support the arming of police.

"I would be reluctant to see the New Zealand Police armed. It's obviously a legitimate debate but in my opinion the move to greater arming of the police force brings with it substantial risks."

He said Police Commissioner Howard Broad had told him there was nothing to show being armed would have prevented other police deaths.