12. Question No. 12—PoliceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 12—Police12. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by her statement It is my view that New Zealanders feel safer"; if so why?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Minister of Police): Thank you Mr Speaker. For the third time I stand by my full statement that it is my view that New Zealanders feel safer with a Government on track to deliver 1800 extra police. As the Minister of Police I remain committed to making New Zealanders feel safer through the actions this Government is taking including the delivery of 1800 additional police the roll-out of the Tactical Response Model and also establishing a firearms registry.Hon Mark Mitchell: How can she say that New Zealanders feel safer when the Government's firearms prohibition orders (FPOs) have only been used twice in nine months?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: The reality of a firearms prohibition order is that when it is issued it is done at sentencing by a judge. It is a tool that this Government developed in legislation to enable the judiciary to enable an extra tool. I find it rich from that member when they talked about and read Cabinet papers about firearm prohibition orders for nine years and failed to deliver one.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why did the Government vote down firearms prohibition orders that the Opposition brought to the House?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: This Government brought a fit for purpose rule that did not breach the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and we passed that legislation and it's now enacted.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why did the Government bring a bill to this House that has only been used twice in nine months with a rising incidence of gang members carrying firearms and using them?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I would like to talk the member through the process of a firearms prohibition order so he understands how the court process works. The orders empower judges to prohibit anyone convicted of a firearms-related offence and other offences including murder and serious violent offences from accessing or using guns. Following a full police investigation police charge a defendant with a qualifying offence. The defendant appears in court. The ordinary prosecution process takes place. Due to the nature of criminal proceedings there is no onesizefitsall model for what the prosecution process or for what the qualifying offence looks like. The defendant then either pleads or is found guilty of the qualifying offence and they will appear for sentencing in respect of that offence at which time the court may make an FPO as part of the sentencing process.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why did the Government pass a weak bill when they were warned by the Police Association that if they did it wouldn't be used and nine months later it's been used twice?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I'd be wary of quoting the Police Association given that member's current stance on the firearms registry. The current bill passed and enacted by this Government provides the courts with a good tool that is utilised to enable those dangerous people who have access to firearms to have prohibition orders put over them just as the firearms registry when live will do the same process.Hon Stuart Nash: Is the Minister aware of any party in this House that voted against Government legislation that made it harder for gangs to get firearms and—SPEAKER: Order! That's out of order. That concludes oral questions."