All Police Armed Offenders Squads (AOS) will now have access to the XM1006 “sponge round” following a successful operational trial and endorsement by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).
In November 2013, Police announced that the new tactical option would be made available to the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch AOS and the national Special Tactics Group (STG), enhancing the range of tactical options already available.
The round will now be made available to the remaining 14 AOS units around the country, who will receive appropriate training in their use.
"The sponge round provides these specialist Police staff with an effective tool that can help resolve dangerous incidents from a safe distance, where previously firearms may have been the only remaining option," says National Manager Response and Operations, Superintendent Chris Scahill.
To date, the round has been used twice, during the arrest of Aaron McDonald near Franz Josef in March 2014, after he fled from a homicide in Christchurch before going on to kidnap and seriously assault two hitchhikers.
An IPCA investigation has endorsed the use of the round, which it says proved an effective tactical option in conjunction with Police dogs during the arrest of Mr McDonald.
In accepting the Authority's findings, Mr Scahill says the sponge round supplements the range of tactical options already available to specialist Police staff, as it provides a mid-range option that was not previously available.
"While the sponge round is a welcome addition to the range of tools currently available, it's important to stress that no single tactical option is always necessarily fully effective. These options are more likely to be successful when combined or used in a tiered response. Nor is it designed to replace other tactical options, including firearms, which will still be used where absolutely necessary."
The sponge round is designed to be fired from a 40mm gas launcher, a product already used by STG and AOS. The 40mm projectile is designed to spread its energy across 4.5 times the surface area, which allows it to also be used at extremely close range with no greater risk of injury to the subject.
"While any use of force by Police carries an element of risk, the conditions under which any tactical option may be used will always be dictated by the actions and behaviour of those we are confronted with at the time," Mr Scahill says.
"That said, use of the sponge round is still likely to be relatively limited, given that it is only available to specialist groups, and will not be viable to use in every situation."
Use of the rounds will be closely controlled within Police's existing Tactical Options Framework, and subject to the same reporting requirements as other tactical options.
ENDS
Media contact: Ross Henderson, PNHQ Public Affairs, Ph 04 470 7316.