11. Question No. 11—PoliceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—PoliceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa): Thank you Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Police: is she confident that the police pursuit policy allows police to respond appropriately to ram raids and if so why? SPEAKER: Sorry have another go. 11. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of Police: Is she confident the change in the Police pursuit policy has not led to an increase in ram raids and if so why? Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): The ram raid incidents we are seeing are shocking and incredibly distressing for those affected. I am confident the police are taking action by launching the new retail crime unit and by commencing Operation Pryor which has seen over 110 arrests and more than $100000 in stolen property recovered in the last three months alone. The pursuits policy was changed in 2020 following a number of evidence-based Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) recommendations in the wake of 63 pursuit-related deaths within a decade. There is no evidence that shows the current police pursuit policy has led to an increase in ram raid incidents. Hon Mark Mitchell: Why has the percentage of arrests for fleeing drivers dropped from 41 percent in 2017 to 17 percent in 2021? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: While the police pursuits policy has changed that does not mean that the police follow-up of those involved in those crimes has changed—it has not. Police do follow up where they have the evidence to do so. Can I just say that the change to the police pursuits policy is about saving lives and it has worked. Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very direct question—SPEAKER: Yes yes and I probably should have ruled it out because it didn't really relate to the question. It was a question about ram raids and the effect on ram raids. Hon Mark Mitchell: No the original question was about the—SPEAKER: No it's not the original question; it's the one that's printed which is the one that I'm talking about. Hon Mark Mitchell: It relates to the police pursuit policy. SPEAKER: And its effect on ram raids not a general question about pursuits policy. If the member wanted to ask one of them he should have. Hon Mark Mitchell: Does she think that 83 percent of drivers who fail to stop for police who are not caught is acceptable? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: What I do think is acceptable is police taking the courageous view to accept the IPCA recommendations which resulted in no deaths after 63 pursuit-related deaths in a decade. Hon Mark Mitchell: Does she stand by her statement: We have never had this situation where we've got young people challenging police in this way." and if so is this a result of her soft on crime approach? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Can I say let's put this into context: youth crime has been trending down since 2017 ram raids make up about 1 percent of all retail crime and six out of 10 times it's young people involved. That's why we're taking a targeted approach. We've put 109 more police officers into the youth space we're setting up the retail crime unit and putting more funding into addressing school truancy. It's easy to use throwaway lines like "soft on crime" in this space. It's a very gendered statement that has been thrown out by not just that member but the Leader of the Opposition who claims to be a feminist. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Both sides please. Hon Mark Mitchell: Why have we never in this country had this situation before? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I beg to differ and I would quote the Minister of Police in 2016 and her response to retail crime when she said that we do not have enough cops. Now that is why as police Minister I'm proud to say that we have funded record funding investment funding into the police: 1400 extra cops; 109 are working with youth alone. If the National Party are to be believed if they ever got their hands on the Budget they would reduce police funding. Hon Mark Mitchell: Well does she or does she not stand by her statement that we have never had this situation before?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I stand by my statements and I also stand by the police which clearly that member does not."