Magistrate Michael Holmes, the permanent sitting Tamworth magistrate, yesterday confirmed local police could continue to carry their weapons in and around the court complex as part of their duties.

“The responsibility of the safety in court in this room is vested in me,” Mr Holmes told the court.

“Because of the security, or the lack of security in this court complex, police can bring their firearms into this court complex.”

He said recent Sydney media reports that guns were prohibited in all courthouses were inaccurate, and said the Tamworth court precinct did not have some of the security measures in place as those in metropolitan courthouses.

Random security scanning operates at the Tamworth court, while prison guards, police and sheriffs patrol the precinct and the courtrooms.

In recent years, police officers have been asked to leave certain courtrooms in Tamworth to remove their firearms.

Yesterday’s announcement came as the state’s police association called for a rethink on court security across NSW to allow police to carry their weapons in court.

“Even leaving aside the escalating terror-related threat and attacks here and overseas, courthouses can be pressure-cooker environments and police need to be properly equipped when confronted with a violent situation,” NSW Police Association president Scott Webber said. 

“Judges, magistrates and court officials can’t always control what happens in the courtroom.

“Tradition does not dictate no weapons in the local court. It is an archaic system from higher courts and times have changed. 

“When these traditions developed, there were no credit-card knives, no ceramic-edged weapons, no 3D-printed-edged weapons or firearms.

“Police have a sworn duty to intervene and all our training involves access to all our tactical options, including our full appointments.

“Offenders are unlikely to turn around and attack the gallery, they will turn on police or the bench. We must be able to protect ourselves and others.”