8. Question No. 8—PoliceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 8—Police8. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by her statement I reject the premise that gang tensions have increased under this Government's watch" and how does she reconcile that with the 12 gang-related shootings last week?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): Thank you Mr Speaker. And can I just thank and add my welcome to the Hon Lisa Neville from Victoria who is in the House today.I stand by the full context of all my statements. In response to recent shootings police have launched an operation which has included the deployment of the armed offenders squad to conduct search warrants and make arrests. Today the police have made 10 arrests seized four firearms recovered 250 rounds of ammunition and carried out four warrantless searches and six search warrants. I'm confident the police will continue to put pressure on gangs through further enforcement activity and the Government will continue to support them in these efforts. That's why we've invested a record $562 million into Police through Budget 2022 doubled the number of organised crime staff since 2017 and introduced firearms prohibition orders to the House. Hon Mark Mitchell: Does she accept that had the Government voted for the Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Bill last year police would currently be making use of the additional search powers and taking guns off gang members?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The police already undertake warrantless searches. They have significant search powers; you just need to look at Operation Tauwhiro with nearly 700 warrantless searches undertaken since February last year.Hon Mark Mitchell: So if the Minister's premise is that the police already have the powers necessary to undertake searches why did they introduce a weak firearms prohibition order (FPO) to the House?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Bill is before the select committee at the moment and being worked on. If the member believes that that is to be weak I think that he is on the select committee and it is incumbent on him and the select committee to do the mahi to get that bill in order. Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very direct question there was no answer to that. She just told me exactly what I already knew that there was an FPO bill in front of the committee. I asked her why the Government had introduced that if the police already had the powers that they needed.DEPUTY SPEAKER: You might not like the answer but the fact of the matter—that was addressed.Hon Mark Mitchell: What additional powers will the FPO give the police that they currently don't have?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I have just said if the member is on the committee that is working on the FPO there's plenty of work that they can be suggesting. The police tell me they have sufficient search and surveillance powers and they have exercised those in their duties.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. Mr Mitchell's question was very direct. There was no hyperbole or added questioning to it. It asked if—as the Minister had said in a previous answer—the police have the powers why do we need the bill? That was not addressed.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'll allow the member to ask the question again and can I ask members to allow the Minister to answer. I did have difficulty hearing the whole answer so it's really up to the members. Hon Mark Mitchell: Minister if the police already have the powers that they need to seize the guns off gangs why has this Government introduced an FPO bill?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: FPOs deal with the most significant criminals in our community whether they're gang members or not. That is the point of them—tougher penalties to ensure that those who would do us the most harm are taken off the streets.Hon Mark Mitchell: So is the Minister telling the House that the FPO bill is going to have tougher penalties?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The effect of the FPO will be tougher.Hon Mark Mitchell: Does she agree with David Parker that it is better to be shot at by a shotgun rather than a semi-automatic and it that the Government's measure of success?Hon Michael Wood: Point of order. The question has no connection with the primary question or any of the answers that were provided.Chris Bishop: Speaking to the point of order I think that is clearly wrong. We've had five or six supplementary questions in relation to firearms that follow directly from the primary and gang members that you have allowed sir. The question from my colleague Mr Mitchell is in relation to the comments of another Government Minister about firearms. The question is clearly in order and it's just whether or not the Minister agrees with her colleague.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm going to allow the question and the Minister can respond.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Firstly I want to acknowledge that those who've been affected by the recent shootings either as bystanders or those living nearby have had a pretty tough time with it; it's been quite scary for them. These incidents are completely unacceptable and that's why the police have responded so strongly. The police have launched an operation which has so far seen 10 arrests four firearms seized and over 250 rounds of ammunition. The operation supported by armed offenders squad staff who are deployed from across Auckland. The police are doing their job.Chris Bishop: Point of order. Well that was very interesting but it went nowhere near addressing whether or not the Minister agreed with the comment of the Hon David Parker in relationship to shotguns. There was no attempt whatsoever to address that question.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Mr Speaker speaking to the point of order—DEPUTY SPEAKER: No—go on then.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I did say that it was unacceptable.Chris Bishop: Point of order—DEPUTY SPEAKER: No. Let me rule on the first one first. Being very generous in the widest form of possible answers it was kind of addressed so I will allow it."