More than half of New Zealanders think police should carry firearms, new research issued today suggests. But police themselves do not agree.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor told NZPA tonight that 69 percent of sworn staff surveyed in 2005 were opposed to general arming of police, but wanted other non-lethal options.

The latest polling, by Research New Zealand, was carried out between June 25 and July 9, and found that 53 percent of New Zealanders approved of police carrying guns, with the strongest support coming from people aged under 50.

One in five people, 19 percent, strongly approved of the idea.

The polling also showed 44 percent of people were more worried about their personal safety than they were a year ago.

Research New Zealand director Emanuel Kalafatelis said that those under 50 were more likely to approve of police carrying guns and more likely to be increasingly worried about their safety.

"Often the stereotype is that it's older people in our community who are the most concerned about crime and safety but our poll indicates that it is younger people who are the more concerned," he said.

"We found 22 percent of 15 to 29-year-olds and 23 percent of 30 to 39-year-olds strongly approved of the police carrying guns, compared to only 11 percent of people over 60."

He said personal safety was an issue for 53 percent of 15 to 29-year-olds compared with 35 percent of over 60-year-olds.

"Older people have grown up in a New Zealand where the police don't carry guns so it may seem more extreme to them, but perhaps younger people are more open to the idea," Mr Kalafatelis said.

Other subgroups that were likely to support police carrying guns were salary and wage earners (23 percent compared to 13 percent of retired people) and households with children (40 percent compared to 28 percent of households without children).

Mr O'Connor said Research New Zealand's polling had been carried out after the fatal shooting of Manurewa liquor store co-owner Navtej Singh and the debate that followed.

"I suspect that debate has probably influenced some of the answers," he said.

"We're going to be surveying our members later this year and we'll ask this question again, but generally what we're hearing from police officers is the gap in tactical options is not firearms availability, it is actually for a less lethal option, for example the Taser."

Mr O'Connor said there was general satisfaction among officers that firearms were available enough.

"But the huge implication of a police officer shooting anyone, the amount of scrutiny and the trial by media that follows, really is a huge impact, not only on the police officer's career, but actually on their lives."

There had been officers who had had to move addresses and move towns after having used lethal force.

"It's that sort of fear that's making officers call for a less lethal option like Taser, which, despite what the anti-Taser groups are saying, is a very safe option," Mr O'Connor said.

"We're actually getting the stage where police officers are more scared of using lethal force than they are of being subjected to it."

Participants in the latest poll were asked:

* How much do you approve or disapprove of the police carrying guns?

* Would you say you are more or less concerned with your personal safety than you were last year, or has your opinion not changed?

Research New Zealand polled 500 people aged 15 and over by by telephone. The maximum margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percent.

The poll was taken as part of Research New Zealand's monthly survey of attitudes and opinions.