11. Question No. 11—PoliceGOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green) (remote): to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—Police11. GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green) (remote): to the Minister of Police: Is she concerned by a recent report that shows New Zealand Police kill people at 11 times the rate of police in England and Wales with the Police's use of force disproportionately directed at Māori?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): I am concerned about the use of firearms in our communities and that is why we are reforming our firearms law. Policing is an inherently dangerous job and front-line staff put themselves in harm's way every day to protect the public. The use of lethal force by our police is an absolute last resort and no police officer ever wants to pull the trigger. I am committed to ensuring Police has the tools available to safely defuse situations without the use of lethal force. It's worth noting that New Zealand has a much higher rate of gun ownership than the UK and that the UK has already undertaken comprehensive firearms reforms to make their community safer which we are currently in the process of doing. The statistics are really clear that our Māori and Pacific communities are disproportionately represented and that is why police are working with Kim Workman on addressing the bias that exists in the police operating environment. Golriz Ghahraman: Is she concerned by the fact that many of the people killed by police were not in possession of a firearm and had mental health issues which were likely known to police? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: That is not my understanding; it's my understanding that the vast majority of those who are shot by police are armed. Golriz Ghahraman: What action if any has the Police taken to establish a national programme for monitoring and mentoring of the armed offenders squad (AOS) which was recommended by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) seven years ago after junior squad officers were deployed without the full qualifications and training required for the AOS? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I can confirm that the national training programme for the AOS is already in place. Golriz Ghahraman: Does the Minister think it's acceptable that Māori are seven times more likely than Pākehā to be on the receiving end of police use of force including pepper spray taser and firearms and does she think this is reflective of the low training requirements of New Zealand Police which are behind Germany Australia and even the US? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: It is not acceptable. That is why the Police have developed Te Huringa o Te Tai strategy which has been developed in partnership with iwi Māori to address concerns and to reduce victimisation offending and injuries among police. It's also why it's important that our police represent the communities that they serve. It's something that I'm committed to as Minister of Police and that's why it's been the focus of our 1800 growth initiative with Māori Pasifika and Asian recruits making up 37 percent of all new recruits. Golriz Ghahraman: Is she concerned that the IPCA reports into police shootings indicate a pattern of escalation by the armed offenders squad and that the head of the IPCA said of the shootings that police continue to put themselves in a position where firearms use is the only option"? Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Yes I am concerned and that is why I support the police in their efforts to ensure that they review their training and that they put in place the measures that they need to to make sure that the AOS are sufficiently trained—and just for that member's information they do receive a minimum of 20 days' training each year."