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: What advice if any has he received on the safety of frontline police officers?Hon MARK MITCHELL (Minister of Police): I receive a—Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: Yeah I'm listening; carry on.Hon MARK MITCHELL: I receive a range of advice. The latest advice that I received from police in relation to front-line safety is that there was a 45.5 percent increase in assaults on police since 2018.Hon Ginny Andersen: Does he agree with police advice that Timely and accurate intelligence sharing between the Firearms Safety Authority and police is vital for joint success. Shared intelligence supports front-line staff safety as well as the work of police in tackling organised crime."?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Yes I do agree with that. I think that we're in a terrible situation as a country where under the previous Government we've seen a massive increase in violent crime a 33 percent increase. We've seen a 76 percent increase in gang members. Those gang members are carrying firearms; they're willing to use them. The intelligence for the police to gather is critically important. They are rebuilding that capability. This Government is bringing legislation to make sure they've got additional tools and powers to get on top of the gang problem that we've got in our country. This Government is committed to making sure that we get back on track and that New Zealand should be the safest place in the world instead of experiencing some of the worst violent crime that was perpetuated by that Government—well the former Government.Hon Ginny Andersen: Is he confident that front-line police officers will be able to access up-to-date intelligence on firearms if the Firearms Safety Authority is removed from police and located within another Government department such as the Department of Internal Affairs?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well what I'd say to that is that this Government is committed to making sure that our police have got all the intelligence all the tools all the resources that they need to go out there and keep the public safe. They feel that they've got a lot of work to do because under the previous Government we saw an enormous increase in gang members. We've seen a massive increase in violent retail crime that's baked in over six years. We've got a big job ahead of us. We're up for it and we're tackling it.Hon Ginny Andersen: Point of order Mr Speaker. I asked the Minister if he is confident where the front-line police safety will be ensured if the transfer of Te Tari Pūreke the Firearms Safety Authority is taken out of police. I don't believe he went anywhere near talking about that question.SPEAKER: Well just have another go—that's all. No one's in a hurry here it seems.Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well do you want to ask the question again or do you want me to just answer it?SPEAKER: You've just actually asked the question again by way of your point of order so I think you've probably heard it.Hon MARK MITCHELL: Thank you Mr Speaker. Like I said this Government is committed to making sure that our police have all the resources all the intelligence and the ability to be able to deal with firearms and gang harm in this country because under the previous Government we had a 76 percent increase in gang numbers we've had a massive increase in gang violence we've had gang members now that carry firearms and are willing to use them. This Government is committed to making sure that our police officers have got the tools and the powers and the ability to not only keep themselves safe but keep the members of the public safe as well.Hon Ginny Andersen: I asked whether the Minister had confidence that the transfer of that authority into another department would ensure front-line safety. He gave me a list of things that he was committed to but he did not express confidence—in shifting the Firearms Safety Authority would ensure that same level of access to intelligence to police.SPEAKER: Yes I know but I've listened to the answer twice now and I think replying in a way that talks about a commitment to the safety of officers does address the question.Hon Ginny Andersen: How will he resolve police's concern that "Both the Arms Act and the coalition agreement include timings that appear incompatible with one another and this needs to be resolved."?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well there's nothing incompatible at all about the approach to law and order and public safety by this coalition Government. We have committed to an additional 500 police officers. We are bringing new legislation and that will deal with violent gangs. We are bringing legislation in that will actually put tougher consequences around these violent retail youth and juvenile offenders. So it is a completely consistent approach by this Government in terms of making sure that we start to deal with what's a tough job because of the last six years under a Labour Government. But we are committed to that and we're going to continue to make forward movement on it.Hon Ginny Andersen: Mr Speaker I asked him whether—SPEAKER: Excuse me what is it?Hon Ginny Andersen: Point of order sorry. A point of order Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: A point of order the Hon Ginny Andersen.Hon Ginny Andersen: Apologies Mr Speaker. A point of order: the Minister was asked that there was a quote that was police advice—that basically clearly said that the Arms Act and the coalition are at odds with each other and that needs to be resolved. And the Minister has not addressed how he intends to resolve that issue.SPEAKER: Well that's not the way the member would like but he started his answer by saying he disagreed with you. I don't think you can get much clearer than that.Hon Ginny Andersen: How can he say that front-line safety is his priority when police themselves have raised real concerns directly with him regarding taking the Firearms Safety Authority out of police?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well I can say that public safety is important to this Government because that's what we're about as a coalition. And police safety—if the Minister had read my letter of expectation to the commissioner which we had to release to get us back on track and focused again on the things that matter she would see that police safety is a priority for this Government.SPEAKER: Good."