11. Question No. 11—PoliceGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—Police11. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of Police: What reports has he seen about police efforts to prevent and respond to methamphetamine harm in the community?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Before I answer this question I just want to acknowledge the passing of an All Black great in Andy Haden one of the game's true legends. I have seen numerous reports that affirm this Government's commitment to preventing and responding to the damage methamphetamine is causing to our communities. As referenced in the House yesterday by the Minister for Regional Economic Development the Government has invested an additional $20 million in regional programmes to reduce the damage meth is causing.This includes upgrades to residential facilities that support detoxification rehabilitation and re-engagement with the community for recovering meth users as well as an extension to the collaboration between DHBs and police in Northland with the Te Ara Oranga programme. Reports show that a staggering 1.8 tonnes of meth was seized by police and Customs during 2019—three times as much as the previous year—and in the first half of 2020 police busted 38 clandestine meth labs. To effectively deal with the scourge of meth we need to attack the supply and reduce demand. This Government is committed to supporting enforcement agencies iwi non-governmental organisations and the community to do just that.Greg O'Connor: How has the increase in police numbers helped to prevent and respond to methamphetamine harm in the community?Hon STUART NASH: Under this Government there has been a 14 percent increase in police numbers nationwide. Seven hundred of these officers are being dedicated to organised crime. To put that increase in the context of reducing the harm from meth this means that the National Organised Crime Group has now expanded into the districts to help disrupt meth supply. A new dedicated team has been set up in the South Island and police are looking to set up a new team in the Waikato district. The Pacific Transnational Crime Network has been established and is co-located with Customs in Auckland. Two United States Drug Enforcement Administration officers are also expected later this year to further help disrupt the transnational supply of meth and other drugs. There is the establishment of a multi-agency working group that includes New Zealand Customs; the Department of Corrections; the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment; and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) to deliver this Government's methamphetamine manufacture disruption action plan. This is what is possible when you fund an agency and rebuild their workforce after years of neglect.Greg O'Connor: What recent initiatives has the Government announced to help protect and disrupt the supply of methamphetamine and other drugs in the community?Hon STUART NASH: Today police and ESR announced the development of a drug-screening solution which allows front-line officers working in our communities to carry out real-time testing of drugs. In a world-leading initiative for law enforcement the New Zealand Police have collaborated with ESR in trialling the Lumi Drug Scan device which has enabled officers to test for the most common drugs on the streets using a handheld device and receive almost instant results through their work-issued mobile phones. Lumi can test for methamphetamine MDMA and cocaine—three of the most common and harmful drugs on the New Zealand market. I'm also pleased to have announced with the Associate Minister of Transport the Hon Julie Anne Genter the—DEPUTY SPEAKER: These are very long answers—Hon STUART NASH: —yes—DEPUTY SPEAKER: —to all of these questions.Hon STUART NASH: —introduction of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill today. Last year—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Quickly.Hon STUART NASH: —103 people died in crashes where the driver was later found to have drugs in their system.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ministers can actually use press releases to make an answer.