Police Minister Judith Collins says lock boxes for firearms in patrol cars could be rolled out within a matter of months.
Ms Collins says she supports giving police the power to make the call themselves on whether to use them.
She says she does not want to pre-empt a report by Police Commissioner Howard Broad, but it is important that he knows the Government supports options such as lock boxes.
Ms Collins says a decision on whether to introduce them is ultimately for Mr Broad to make.
However, if he does choose to do so, the policy could be in place within a few months.
Ms Collins says law-abiding people will support police being safe and she does not care what other people think.
