10. Question No. 10—PoliceBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 10—Police10. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Police: Is he confident the Government's policies are keeping people safe?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Yes especially our decision to almost double the number of fog cannons installed in small businesses like dairies superettes and police stations. After I changed the criteria we have installed more than 500 of these crime prevention devices and we're on track for around 1000. Aggravated robberies of commercial premises are at their lowest level in five years thanks to this fog cannon initiative. Extra police resources have also enabled record seizures of methamphetamine—1.8 tonnes in 2019—and meth use in the population is now down by 17 percent. To all those watching at home and I know a few of them these are just a couple of examples of the initiative from the true Government of law and order. [Interruption]Brett Hudson: Why have victimisations—SPEAKER: Order! Order! No I'm going to get the member to start again. I'm going to ask Judith Collins to stop her comments.Brett Hudson: Why have victimisations risen by over 26000 in the 12 months to the end of January 2020?Hon STUART NASH: More police gives people greater confidence that when they report to police the police will actually do something to address their concerns but can I give you a couple of examples please. The introduction of the new family harm legislation in December 2018 led to an increase in the number of serious assaults reported to police in 2019. Family violence is notoriously under-reported and police are working hard to make a difference for victims and prevent reoffending by perpetrators. There is also increasing demand for police to respond to callouts that aren't crimes like mental health and road policing. In last year's Budget Minister Clark allocated $1.9 billion to mental health and addiction services. Under this Government we rebuilt road policing that had been cut by 111 police under the previous Government. Just two examples of why they may have increased.Brett Hudson: Why then have victimisations for property crime risen by over 21000 in the 12 months to the end of January 2020?Hon STUART NASH: That member is very good with some stats so let me give him a few of my own: 2000 new police 1000 fog cannons 17 percent drop in meth use $100 million in seized assets and cash—80 percent from drugs gangs and organised crime. This is the true Government of law and order that is working incredibly hard to keep people safe and prevent crime in our community.Brett Hudson: Why given the number of new police the Minister claims have victimisations for property crime risen by over 21000 in the 12 months to the end of January 2020?Hon STUART NASH: Those aren't claims; those are the facts. But let me give you one example. A construction boom—Hon Member: Answer the question.Hon STUART NASH: Would you like me to? OK thank you. A construction boom and increased housing developments have also seen an increase in dwelling burglaries from residential building sites. Burglars often steal property for sale to feed a drug habit but thanks to Dr Clark we have put $1.9 billion to deal with mental health and addiction services. Two thousand new police into our communities are doing a hell of a lot to prevent crime and keep our communities safe.Brett Hudson: Does it concern him then that burglary victimisations have increased by 7.2 percent in the 12 months to the end of January 2020; and if so what does he say to the victims of burglaries under this Government?Hon STUART NASH: I'll let that member know what concerns me. There is a bill before this House which will significantly increase penalties for gun crime and it will keep guns out of the hands of gangs and that party is not supporting it. That is what concerns me.Brett Hudson: Does he believe that the fact that new gang members outnumber the incremental increase of front-line police officers under this Government is helping to make New Zealanders safer?Hon Andrew Little: That member did nothing about it.Hon STUART NASH: In 2011 the Australian gangs became—Hon Andrew Little: They did nothing about it. Lowest under that Government—did nothing about it.SPEAKER: Order! Order! Yes occasionally Mr Little you answer on behalf of the Minister of Police. That occurs when he's not here. I think in this particular supplementary question you've done more of the addressing of the question than he has—not that that's always a high test.Hon STUART NASH: And I would like to thank Mr Little for his support in this because I know he's passionate about what we're doing in the criminal justice sector. What I would say—what I would say—is these gangs became entrenched in 2011; the next year police numbers dropped by 150. In the last three years of the previous Government as gangs grew meth became entrenched and crime got out of control police numbers dropped. Under this Government thanks to New Zealand First support we have trained 2000 new police into our communities and I'm incredibly proud of the work they do to keep our communities safe and prevent harm.Hon James Shaw: Does the Minister believe that loosening the Government's proposed gun laws to make it easier for gangs to get guns will keep New Zealanders safe?Hon STUART NASH: It's a very good point. There is a bill before Parliament which will significantly increase penalties for gun crime and it will keep guns out of the hands of the gangs. However that party—the Opposition—is not supporting it and I can't for the life of me figure out why.