Constable Sophie Allison was off duty, “minding my own business”, doing some supermarket shopping in the early afternoon of Monday, May 10, 2021, when she heard “the sort of screaming that makes your heart sink”.

It was a return to "normality" at the 87th Police Association Annual Conference last month as president Chris Cahill made his opening address to a full in-person crowd for the first time since 2019.

Police Minister Chris Hipkins addressed members’ concerns about the recent decision to restrict the taking of voluntary fingerprints and photographs.

The rapid spread of online disinformation poses one of the biggest challenges to public trust and confidence in police, Commissioner Andrew Coster told delegates to the Police Association’s annual conference.

The spirit of optimism was keeping a low profile at the 2022 conference as guest speakers canvassed the theme of future challenges for policing and the world.

Cited as a "life saver" at the climax of the Parliament protests earlier this year, sponge rounds could become an effective tool for officers facing violent subjects.