10. Question No. 10—PoliceCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 10—Police10. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Police: Does he have confidence in the security policies and systems of the New Zealand Police?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Yes and where there are breaches of these operational policies I also have confidence that the Commissioner of Police will undertake the necessary actions to ensure that the 12000-plus men and women of the New Zealand police service are complying with these policies.Chris Bishop: Is he concerned that part of a top-secret intelligence watch-list of more than 100 people being actively monitored by police post 15 March has been leaked to media; and if so what does he intend to do about this appalling breach of security?Hon STUART NASH: I have not received advice that there was a leak of top-secret information. I have seen media reports that claim material of a top-secret nature has been received by a journalist. But my expectation is that if the Commissioner of Police suspects that there has been a breach of operational protocols he will attend and investigate it accordingly. I must also say that the unlawful possession of top-secret information is a criminal offence and it is an offence under the Policing Act to release classified information to unauthorised persons.Chris Bishop: Will the police be conducting an inquiry into how part of a top-secret intelligence watch-list of more than 100 people being actively monitored by the police made its way out of the police into the media's hands; and if not will he as the Minister of Police order an inquiry?Hon STUART NASH: I reiterate my answer to the last question: I have not received advice that there was a leak of top-secret information.Greg O'Connor: What evidence does the Minister have to support his confidence in the New Zealand Police's security policies and systems?Hon STUART NASH: From the outset when the firearms amnesty was announced I made it clear that the least-preferred option is for firearms owners to deliver weapons to stations but rather to go online and fill in the required form or call 0800 311 311 and organise a time for police to collect these weapons. I have always been very clear about that and it appears the firearms community has been listening and they understand that police stations are not designed to receive tens of thousands of weapons. At last count 2388 forms had been completed online 3200 firearms had been declared for surrender and 403 weapons had been physically surrendered. I am keen for police and the Government to work with the community rather than create divisions which the Opposition police spokesman has a track record of doing even if he has deleted such information from his Facebook page.Chris Bishop: Is it correct that the person who stole 11 firearms from the Palmerston North police station walked through an open roller door accessed the internal part of the station and broke through an alarmed and locked door to steal the firearms; and if that is correct why has he been urging New Zealanders to hand firearms in to the police?Hon STUART NASH: I will reiterate: I have never encouraged people to go to a police station and hand in firearms. I have always urged people with firearms that are prohibited or that they want to hand in to go online fill in the form or phone the 0800 number and organise a time for police to collect these weapons but not to go into a police station and hand them in.Chris Bishop: Why is he now saying he has never encouraged people to hand weapons in to the police when he said not two weeks ago What we would urge people to do is not wait until 29 September to declare your weapon or to hand it in." and if that's not encouraging people to them in to the police station then what is?Hon STUART NASH: I reiterate: what we do know is that there are 13000 registered military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) out there—13000 registered MSSAs. We have no idea how many assault rifles are out there. There could be tens; there could be hundreds of thousands. Police stations are not designed to store 13000 MSSAs. We are currently in the process of developing policies and procedures to collect these firearms store them and have them destroyed. And the number one consideration is transparency and the safety of the public and the integrity of the system."