12. Question No. 12—PoliceTOM RUTHERFORD (National—Bay of Plenty) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 12—Police12. TOM RUTHERFORD (National—Bay of Plenty) to the Minister of Police: What recent announcements has Police made about deployments in our city centres?Hon MARK MITCHELL (Minister of Police): On Sunday Police announced the establishment of Community Beat Teams in major cities across New Zealand as well as Operation Safer Streets in Auckland to target antisocial behaviour and crime in the CBD. From 1 July 21 additional staff will be joining the beat team in Auckland CBD with the intent to move to a 24/7 beat patrol model. This is part of the wider Community Beat Teams deployment over two years of 63 staff to Auckland 17 to Wellington and 10 to Christchurch to provide the public with reassurance and to deter and disrupt antisocial behaviour and retail crime. Sunday's announcement alongside the announcement of the National Gang Unit and district gang disruption units builds upon the work Police is doing to deliver on my letter of expectations and more broadly this Government's plan to restore law and order.Tom Rutherford: Why did he make police being highly visible in communities one of his expectations of the Police Commissioner?Hon MARK MITCHELL: I talk regularly with retail shop owners business owners and the public and have had dozens of public meetings around the country both as Minister and before. The number one piece of feedback—and I completely agree with it—is that the public have not in recent years had a sense that police are present in their communities. As police Minister my focus is on ensuring that police are getting back out on the beat providing reassurance and deterring offending.Tom Rutherford: Does he agree with the Queens Arcade property manager who believes that the announcement will help bring down crime in the Auckland CBD?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Yes I do. I'm confident that having police highly visible in the CBD as part of Operation Safer Streets will ensure that the public get a sense that police are keeping them safe and will give offenders a sense that their activity will not be tolerated. While it's heartening to see that Police are saying crime in the central city is starting to trend in the right direction it is still at an unacceptable level and the public are still exposed to it and feel unsafe. This Government is focused on clamping down on crime. Tom Rutherford: Does he agree with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive that it is surprising what [these] kind[s] of interventions can do."?Hon MARK MITCHELL: I agree with what he says. Because of my own experience I've seen the positive effect of highly visible beat constables in their communities.Hon Ginny Andersen: Why does Christchurch have to wait two years for just 10 additional beat constables?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well Christchurch haven't had to wait for constables being more visible in their communities because there's changes taking place already. As part of the established beat teams there's going to be an additional 10 dedicated police constables that will be put into Christchurch.Hon Ginny Andersen: Sorry point of order Mr Speaker. My question was: why does Christchurch have to wait two years for just 10 more police officers? I got that they are waiting for two years but he didn't explain the reason behind that.SPEAKER: No no—think about the whole question that was asked. The Minister's opening statement was that they don't have to wait two years. So you can't be more definitive than that."