11. Question No. 11—JusticeHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 11—Justice11. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Justice: Is the Government taking all possible steps to reduce violent crime and to prioritise the needs of victims of crime?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Justice): The Government has a significant programme of work under way in both of those areas. We're taking steps to protect victims of family violence including the excellent work undertaken by Minister Davidson to develop New Zealand's first strategy to eliminate family and sexual violence. We've also introduced legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of high-risk offenders and we're also reforming the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act to hit gangs where it hurts: to seize their assets and money when they can't prove it has been legitimately earned. Last year this Government also passed the Sexual Violence Legislation Act which makes changes to trial processes and evidence rules to reduce the unnecessary re-traumatisation that sexual violence complainants can experience in court. We've increased funding for the likes of the Victim Assistance Scheme to ensure that more victims get the support they need. And we've also invested in practical programmes to keep victims safe like the Women's Refuge Whānau Protect and the National Home Safety Service. All of these measures are designed to make sure we're reducing violent crime and prioritising the needs of victims.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How does he argue these steps have been effective when violent crime has increased by 21 percent over the past two years while convictions have reduced 19 percent over the same time period?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: If the member is referring to some of the statistics that were released yesterday I would also note that the overall number of charges that are being put on have reduced. So I would ask that the member take a glass half-full approach as to the current glass half-empty approach.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does the Government accept responsibility for the 50 percent increase in gang numbers under its watch and does he accept this is why many New Zealanders are seeing an increase of lawlessness and violence in their communities?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I stand by the Government's track record to make sure we give the police the legislation to clamp down on organised crime—as I have mentioned the moves around the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act and also our commitment regarding funding to the police to increase the number of police on the beat.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How can the Government possibly argue it prioritises victims when the resolution rate which measures when formal proceedings are brought after someone has suffered a violent crime has declined from nearly 70 percent in 2017 to a mere 47 percent in 2021? That's fewer than half.Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I stand by our track record to support victims. As I mentioned this Government has increased the support to the likes of Victim Support and the Victim Assistance Scheme by the tune I believe of around $7 million compared to when that party was last in Government.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Supplementary?SPEAKER: No the member's used all his supplementaries. That concludes oral questions—oh sorry one more question.