3. Question No. 3—PoliceGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 3—Police3. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of Police: Sláinte Mr Speaker and happy St Patrick's day. What reports has she seen regarding efforts by Police to disrupt organised crime?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): The Government is committed to the crackdown on organised crime and gangs and that's why we're supporting Police to ensure they have the tools to do just that. I've seen a report that shows Police are off to a strong start this year in their efforts to disrupt organised crime. In February Police successfully terminated a major drug importation ring and made a number of arrests; the result of a five-month long operation code-named Operation Trout. Those arrested have been charged with the importation and supply of class A drugs and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. This Government will continue to support Police in their efforts to disrupt and deter organised crime and I thank them for the fantastic work they do to keep us safe. Greg O'Connor: What does the report show for efforts to disrupt organised crime here in Wellington? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The report shows New Zealand Police are making significant progress in their efforts to tackle organised crime here in the capital. The Wellington drugs and organised crime team led a joint operation with the New Zealand Customs Service which resulted in nine search warrants being executed in the Hutt Valley. As part of their search warrants more than 30 police officers descended on a number of properties arresting five people and seizing firearms and associated ammunition. Police will continue to target organised crime and take guns and drugs off the streets and that's why this Government has funded the largest police force ever including an additional 700 with specific focus on targeting organised crime. Greg O'Connor: What does this operation mean for the illegal importation of drugs into our communities? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The operation strikes a major blow at the importation of drugs into New Zealand. The successful multi-agency operation identified and terminated the supply chain of up to 10 kilograms of methamphetamine which was being brought into New Zealand from the United States China Canada and the United Kingdom. The social harm costs of this amount of methamphetamine is estimated to be between $20 million and $45 million according to the New Zealand harm index. In the last month alone Police have made significant progress in disrupting the meth trade taking more than 600 kilograms off the streets and yesterday the team at customs announced a record seizure of 700 kilograms of cocaine that had been imported from South America with a street value of around $280 million. Our law enforcement agencies continue to strike real blows against organised crime and the supply of illicit drugs in our community and I'm sure my colleagues across the House will join me in acknowledging the excellent work Police does in this space to keep us safe. Hon Mark Mitchell: If her plan is working why was it reported yesterday that a Rotorua woman keeps a baseball bat beside her bed and is afraid to leave her home because of the increase in gang violence in her neighbourhood? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There is no doubt that there are distressing experiences that our people in our community experience every day but I know that the Police are doing a fantastic job in their work to combat gangs and organised crime as I've just said. The Police take a number of actions and I point to Operation Tauwhiro as being just one such action: a year of success which has meant we've rolled it out for a further six months. I want to say I thank the Police for the work that they have done in taking 1531 firearms off the street arresting 1255 people and removing 53 kilograms of meth out of circulation. Hon Mark Mitchell: If her plan is working why was an innocent member of the public surrounded by violent gang members on a public road and beaten so badly that he still lies in critical care? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There's no doubt that that was a dreadful experience and as the Minister of Police I have no tolerance for what we saw over the weekend in the Waikato. What I can say is Police have launched Operation Rangiriri to investigate and take action against those identified as being responsible for any offending and Police do take action. An example of that is a gang gathering in Wellington where four arrests were made and two vehicles have been impounded a gang tangi where there were 50 infringements and two arrests and four vehicles have been impounded and in Auckland 16 gang members were arrested and charged and two motorcycles impounded. The charging rate against identified gang members is up 92 percent in the year to date which has gone up under our watch. In the Waikato case Police have launched an operation and they will be taking action against those involved.