7. Question No. 7—PoliceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 7—Police7. 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): I again stand by my full statement which is "It is my view that New Zealanders feel safer with a Government on track to deliver 1800 extra police."Hon Mark Mitchell: How can she say that New Zealanders feel safer if by her own admission there is an increase in crime?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I can say that. What I did say is that New Zealanders feel safer with 1800 extra police on the beat. What I will note is that not only were front-line services diminished under the previous Government but significant numbers of police stations around New Zealand closed when the member was in Government.SPEAKER: Order! That was a straight-up question. It didn't need the political jibe. Mark Mitchell can have an extra question.Hon Mark Mitchell: Thank you Mr Speaker. When she said there is an increase in crime what has been the increase in violent retail crime?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I have acknowledged that there has been an increase in retail crime and that is exactly why this Government has increased the number of available funds for the fog cannon subsidy—$11 million in additional funds was announced yesterday in order to assist those small-business owners who are experiencing an increase in retail crime.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why has retail crime risen a further 55 percent whilst the Government's failed fog cannon policy has been rolled out?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I note that the National Government—the National Party—[Interruption]Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. I'm happy with that answer! Thank you Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: That definitely wasn't a point of order and if you had any more supplementaries I've just taken them away. Have you finished your answer Minister?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: No I haven't finished. I would like to say that that figure is too high—that's why we are committed to bringing it down. It was not brought down under the previous Government when there was not front-line investment in services and further there was not investment in family harm services in our communities. We know for a fact that young people in New Zealand were left in homes exposed to rates of family harm and 10 years later those young people are presenting in our criminal justice system.Hon Mark Mitchell: Have ram raids increased or decreased since she became police Minister?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I didn't hear that question sorry. Can you repeat the question?SPEAKER: Could you ask the question again?Hon Mark Mitchell: Have ram raids increased or decreased since she became the Minister?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I have been clear that we have a problem with retail crime in New Zealand. They spiked in August of last year and they average out at 55 per month over this year. That figure is too high and that is the reason why this Government is investing in front-line police; that's why our Government is investing in retail crime prevention such as fog cannons; and it's also why this Government is investing in programmes like "circuit breaker" that identify and target the drivers of crime.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. That was a very straightforward question which was "Have ram raids gone up or down since Ms Andersen became the Minister?" There was a long answer that didn't address the question.Hon Kieran McAnulty: Yes it did. She talked about a peak.SPEAKER: Shut up. Goodness me. I'm not responsible for the quality of answer but on reflection I think it was addressed. It took a long time to get there but it did.David Seymour: Does the Minister stand by her statement just then "we have a problem with retail crime" or does she agree with the Prime Minister who said clearly on Morning Report this morning that we don't have a problem with crime just a "challenge"?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I am focused on addressing the drivers of crime. If that member wants to make a word salad over what has been said over different people that's great for him. I am focused as the Minister of Police on addressing the underlying drivers of crime in our community and one of those is family harm.David Seymour: Point of order. The question was very simple: does she stand by that statement or does she support the Prime Minister's statement? She didn't come close to addressing it; just made a series of unrelated statements about her motivations. If that stands as addressing a question I don't think we can get anyone to answer anything.SPEAKER: The member can ask the question again. I'm not certain either way so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.David Seymour: Does the Minister stand by her statement just then that "we [face] a problem with retail crime" or does she agree with the Prime Minister who clearly told Morning Report this morning that there is no problem with crime just a "challenge"?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: There is no difference to what I have said today and what the Prime Minister has said.Hon Mark Mitchell: Could the Minister explain how a further $11 million being put towards fog cannons is addressing the drivers of crime?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I have been upfront in saying this Government is tackling the problem from both ends. From one end is to enable those small-business owners to feel safer in their workplace. I note that on Radio New Zealand this morning that member was in favour of a fog cannon scheme and said it would be funded under a potential future National Government—clearly one of the areas they wouldn't cut. The other area that I would say that we're tackling the problem from is reducing the drivers of crime by enabling programmes like "circuit breaker" and Kotahi Te Whakaaro to work with young people who are in homes which are experiencing complex and ongoing problems."