Armed Offenders Squad

Armed Offenders Squad
Armed Offenders Squad
	AOS member in 2010
Active	August 1964 – present
Country	New Zealand
Agency	New Zealand Police
Type	Police tactical unit
Role	Law enforcement; Counter-terrorism;
Headquarters	Wellington
Abbreviation	AOS
Structure
Officers	320 part-time
Squads	17
Notables
Significant operation(s)	Aramoana massacre; 2007 police raids; Napier shootings; Christchurch mosque shootings; 2023 Auckland shooting;

The Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) are specialist part-time units of the New Zealand Police based around the country available to respond to high risk incidents using specialist tactics and equipment.

The AOS was established when front-line police officers did not carry firearms. While today officers still do not routinely carry sidearms, they have ready access to firearms if required, including high-powered rifles, and receive firearms training. A new expanding role for the AOS is assisting with planned operations.