New extendable batons for police

HAMILTON - Wooden police batons have been given the flick for a shiny new extendable model.

Auckland and Waikato police have started training with the extendable black baton that will soon become standard issue.

The new ASP21 metal batons almost triple in length with a flick of the wrist. When extended they resemble a car aerial. They are retracted by banging the top of the baton on the ground.

Police in other regions will start training with the batons over the next few weeks. But it will take nine months for all the country's officers to be trained and issued with them.

Hamilton police training officer Senior Constable Keith Bunting says the extendable batons are less threatening to look at.

"If I stood talking to you in the street with a wooden baton, you would be a bit edgy.

"You would be wondering what was going to happen next.

"With the ASPs, you would probably not be able to tell what it was if I held it in my hand."

It is yet to be decided if officers can keep their old batons as souvenirs or if they will be scrapped.

The US-made batons cost about $100 each.