Samoa's police minister, who is also the prime minister, says arming police officers was not an option while they performed their normal duties.
Samoa police graduates Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was responding to a question about a school of thought that American Samoa police should be armed following a recent shooting in the territory.
Tuilaepa said the current practice of arming police only when on raids that were considered dangerous and could pose a threat to their lives will remain the norm.
And he said he still believed that a major role of village matai councils is to police the actions of villagers to ensure no criminal activity happens.