8. Question No. 8—PoliceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 8—Police8. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of Police: What is the percentage increase of ram raids since 2018 and how many businesses have had security systems installed through the Small Retailer Crime Prevention Fund?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Police): As the member is aware there is no specific offence code for a ram raid so the data available involves mining the text of all retail burglary descriptions. That data suggests that there were 84 ram raid - style burglaries in 2018 and 517 as of 21 November 2022—a 515 percent increase. In response to the second part of the question as of 17 November a total of 240 stores have been contacted by staff 153 have now completed a police assessment and a total of 362 security interventions have been approved and allocated to contractors. That includes 75 fog cannons or upgrades 62 security sirens 41 alarms 53 CCTV systems or system upgrades 40 bollards or similar security measures and 36 roller doors. Many stores are also receiving improved lighting strengthened windows mirrors and counter screens.Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. My primary question was very clear. It asked how many systems have been installed.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Mr Speaker I can elaborate further on that. I don't have data on the number of those projects that I've just mentioned that have been completed. The list that I gave is the number that have been approved and now sit with contractors. As to when they are completed that will be a matter between the contractor and the store concerned.Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. That is a primary question on notice. The Minister did have time to actually gather that information and data and bring it to the House. He should know as the police Minister how many security systems have been installed.SPEAKER: When the Minister elaborated he actually answered.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why has a small business in Auckland had to endure 42 ram raids in the past 18 months and spend a quarter of a million dollars fixing the damage caused by ram raiders during a cost of living crisis?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I am concerned about the increased incidences of ram raids and that's why the Government is taking proactive action to ensure that we're following up on every one of those instances. No businesses should have to go through that experience.Hon Mark Mitchell: How can the Minister tell the House that he's taking proactive action when he can't even come here and tell us how many security systems have actually been installed for ram-raided businesses?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I indicated there are 362 security interventions that have been approved for installation. When that actually happens sits between the contractor who's been approved to do the work and the business themselves. In terms of the individual number of stores the 153 stores I don't believe it's a good use of police time to ring 153 of them every day to ask whether the work's been finished yet.Hon Mark Mitchell: Well is he suggesting that it's a good use of police time to be going out and surveying stores to have bollards installed instead of actually being proactive and stopping the ram raids?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: If the member is now saying that we should stop this work that would be an interesting argument for the Opposition to be making.Hon Mark Mitchell: What support if any can he give to struggling business owners who can no longer afford insurance to protect themselves from a relentless crime wave?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I've just indicated in quite a lot of detail the support that is currently being provided and that is across the stores that have had the assessments completed to date and that work continues.Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. The question was about what support he can offer to business owners that can no longer afford insurance to protect their business because the premiums have gone so high because of the amount of ram raids currently happening in this country.SPEAKER: Yeah and that was addressed. Question No. 9—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Point of order! Mr Speaker I'd ask you to also have a look at the answer given to Mr Mitchell's primary question. The question on the sheet very clearly states how many businesses have had security systems installed through the Small Retailer Crime Prevention Fund?" Now someone is paying out terminal invoices from that fund. It must be something the Minister knows and in four hours of preparation it's not unreasonable for the House to accept there might be a specific answer—perhaps as low as seven.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker. The member's point of order itself explains the difficulty there. It can be some time after work is completed before an invoice arrives.SPEAKER: To the point of order by the Hon Mark Mitchell it was a supplementary question and it was definitely addressed. The Minister saying that he doesn't know the number is actually an answer."