A former cop says armed officers are getting involved in routine policing, after introducing a trial of Armed Response Teams.
Video footage from Hamilton has revealed an armed unit pulling over a car in suburban Hamilton, which was linked to dishonesty crime.
Police later said it was not a a regular roadside stop, and the man had been known to have firearms, and was arrested for breaching conditions without incident.
The new armed police units were rolled out last month in a trial to cut down response times to serious incidents.
But they're also being used in "preventative patrolling" in high-risk areas - not just responding to critical call-outs.
Jordan Bond reports.
