9. Question No. 9—PoliceHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 9—Police9. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his response to being asked what is the biggest thing he's done since he took office Oh I think probably the letter of expectation that I put out there for the commissioner"; if so why?Hon CASEY COSTELLO (Associate Minister of Police) on behalf of the Minister of Police: At the time it was said yes. Letters of expectation set a framework and pathway for results and it remains an important document by which I hold the commissioner to account. As a result of this letter of expectation Police have stood up community beat teams a national gang unit and soon gang disruption units in districts. There have been no incidents of gang tangi taking over towns and preventing the public going about their lawful business. Legislation will soon empower police to disrupt and disperse gang gatherings and gang patches will be banned in public places. In the first five months of this year compared with last year there was 6 percent fewer serious assaults resulting in injury 15 percent fewer burglaries 10 percent fewer aggravated robberies and 10 percent fewer stabbings. Auckland Council has reported a 35 percent reduction in crime in the CBD and Heart of the City is saying there is 50 percent less retail crime. While levels of retail crime remain unacceptably high Police tell me the rate of increase has halved and as the member will be aware in the first six months of this year there was a 14 percent increase in foot patrols for the same period. There is of course more work to do to fix the crime hangover that this Government inherited but we are getting on with the job of seeing good progress.Hon Ginny Andersen: Is he concerned that weekly methamphetamine levels in Auckland have increased by 61 percent when compared to quarter 1 of 2023 to quarter 1 of 2024 and if so what action is being taken to reduce increasing methamphetamine levels?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: On behalf of the Minister there is obviously a lot of work still to be done to bring gang organised crime under control. There is a programme of work that includes setting up the national gang unit and more work will continue to proceed in that space. The use of methamphetamine is abhorrent and we are serious about getting on top of it.Hon Ginny Andersen: How can he claim to be backing the front line if he stands by while Nicole McKee excludes A-category firearms from the firearms registry?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: On behalf of the Minister of Police we are working as the Minister is on ensuring that gun safety and the safety of the public is paramount and we will continue to ensure that is the priority for this legislation.Hon Ginny Andersen: Will A-category firearms be excluded from the firearms registry?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: That is a piece of legislation that is being worked on by Minister McKee and that will be part of the process we are working through.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order Mr Speaker. It would occur to you that the last two questions should have been asked of the Minister in charge—Hon Ginny Andersen: It was.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I beg your pardon?Hon Member: He's not here.Rt Hon Winston Peters: No the Minister in charge is the Minister over there—McKee is the Minister in charge.SPEAKER: No hang on—no comment on a point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I'm asking why she was allowed to carry on when she could have had the chance the next day or today of asking the question to the right Minister—if she was of course serious about it.SPEAKER: Well I think the point is that by asking a Minister a question that might be slightly related but not necessarily the Minister's portfolio there simply isn't going to be the answer that might otherwise be expected.Hon Ginny Andersen: Thank you Mr Speaker. How are New Zealanders meant to feel safer when he has reduced Police funding by $108 million reduced the number of front-line police and cut staff in Police by 248 since he took office?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: As the member will be aware there have been no reductions to front-line policing and the public can feel safer because the reality is there have been 14 percent more foot patrols nationwide 10 percent fewer aggravated robberies 15 percent fewer burglaries 6 percent fewer serious assaults resulting in injury and 10 percent fewer stabbings."