The state's police association has renewed calls for specialist local officers to be equipped with long arm rifles for high-risk incidents.
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In January, the Armidale branch called for long-arms in the wake of the shooting of two New England officers who were called to a domestic incident at a Glen Innes home.
Association president Tony King said rural areas and country cops is where the long arms are needed most.
“Restrictions on police access to the firearms in NSW is leading to dangerously ridiculous situations where police have to leave an incident, return to the police station to unlock a long arm firearm, then have to travel back to the incident," he said.
Currently, the state's officers are being trained in the use of long-arms as part of a mandatory program.
But the police union wants the red tape cut and the roll out sped up, arguing the community is being put at risk.
“The call is particularly pertinent in regional and rural areas of the state where firearms are more common in the community," Mr King said.
The association wants the rifles locked in safes in the back of police vehicles, and readily accessible.
Currently, the tactical operation units based in the bush - comprising specialist trained officers from Oxley and New England - have access to long arms, but the equipment is locked in stations.
“These police are highly trained and skilled police who work the streets in regional communities NSW, in performing general duties, detectives and highway patrol," Mr King said.
“We are calling for these officers to carry their long arms in the police vehicles while performing these duties, so they have access to them when required.
“Long arm firearms allow officers to engage a target from a longer distance and with more accuracy, which is vital to ensuring the safety of the community and the officers themselves.
“Instances where officers are required to engage a target from a long distance are thankfully rare, but when they do occur, lives are at stake."
Victoria has long arms accessible in police cars and the state's association says gun training means officers know safe handling and and are well equipped to use firearms, and long arms "are no different".