Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Police back coroner's call for Arms Act review

Updated at 5:38 pm on 4 September 2010

Police are supporting a coroner's recommendation to review the Arms Act in the wake of an armed siege in Napier last year.

Jan Molenaar killed Senior Constable Len Snee, then wounded two other officers and a friend following a routine drug search in May 2009.

The siege lasted 50 hours, during which Molenaar fired shots from inside his Chaucer Rd home, before killing himself a day later.

A coroner's report into the deaths says only honest people comply with the Arms Act, which is inadequately enforced by police. It recommends upgrading search warrant procedures and fast-tracking the introduction of police digital radios.

Superintendent John Rivers agrees a review is warranted and police will soon recommend that the Government make changes to the act.

Family 'trying to move on'

Meanwhile, relatives of the gunman say they do not feel they will ever be able to have closure in the case.

Jan Molenaar's brother, Peter Molenaar, says he believes police were not prepared enough and acted on a smell of drugs coming from the property. He says the family is trying to move on.

Molenaar's stepfather, Paul Molenaar, would not discuss the report but says he does not think the family will ever have closure.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott says the ruling should serve as a wake-up call to those with information about criminals.

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