3. RON MARK (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
Does she believe that police are winning the battle against criminal gangs; if so, why?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Police) Link to this
I am advised that the police are taking ongoing and consistent action with criminal gangs. There have been some recent significant achievements, but there is certainly no room for complacency.
Has she read the report in this morning’s Dominion Post entitled “Gang wrecks Treaty vote”, and does she find it acceptable that gang intimidation has spread from the streets of our towns and cities to our marae, with gangs now intimidating tribal members into voting against Treaty settlements?
I do not find it acceptable to have gang influence in any part of our lives when gangs are involved in criminal activity—whether it is on a marae, on the street, or in the home. I do not believe that many New Zealanders would find it acceptable.
Chester BorrowsIf the Minister has her head around the gang situation in New Zealand, why can she not tell us how many gang fortifications the police have removed in the past few years, or is it the truth that the police have not removed any, and that is why they have removed that reference from their statement of intent?
I do not have those figures with me, but I certainly have my head around crime and gangs in New Zealand, and it is not a lot of hot air, which we often hear, and which we have just heard from the Leader of the Opposition. He is all crocodile tears but no action, and we look forward to seeing him putting his vote where his mouth is.
Is the Minister concerned about recent reports on Radio New Zealand National that claim large-scale infiltration of gang influence in most Government departments, from Immigration New Zealand down to the Ministry of Social Development; and will investigations into Government agencies be part of the Minister’s organised crime strategy?
The New Zealand Police and the organised crime unit will investigate criminal activity and gang activity wherever it happens, but I have no evidence that the gangs have infiltrated all departments, or many departments, in New Zealand. But I can assure the member that the police will investigate, and have the ability to investigate, gangs wherever they are.
Is the Minister concerned that a UK-produced TV documentary showcasing the disgusting criminal behaviour of New Zealand gangs is being shown throughout the world but not in New Zealand, whose treasured international reputation as a safe and free society is being tarnished by the actions of these lawless thugs?
I can have no control over where a company that makes a documentary shows that documentary. What I can say to the member is that we should be congratulating the New Zealand Police and celebrating the work it is doing with gangs in New Zealand. I will give just one example—the “Killer Bees” operation in South Auckland. As the member knows, after a 6-month investigation the police had made almost 60 arrests of those gang members, and they have taken them off to court for the punishment they will receive. So I say to the member that we should look at the good things the police are doing. A documentary made by some company that is shown overseas does not portray New Zealand as it is.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is the Minister confident that the police have the resources and the capacity to get on top of the use and spread of the drug P, which has become the significant province of Chinese triads working alongside Māori gangs in Auckland in particular?
That is a very good question in that one of the problems the police face is the international nature of the precursors for making the drug P. Having good international contacts and relationships is part of stemming the tide of those precursors. As the member will probably know, we already have police officers in countries like China working alongside their agencies in an effort to reduce the flow of those precursors for this dreadful drug. I also say to the member that the police have put a lot of emphasis on catching those who distribute and manufacture P. He will notice that in 1999 around nine clan-labs were busted by the police. If the member looks at the situation today, he will find that that figure is now 200, so a lot of effort and work has gone in.
Gordon CopelandIs the Minister aware that the police believe they would have another tool against P labs if property managers were registered; and having missed the opportunity presented by the Real Estate Agents Bill, is that an issue the Government will address?
I think that that is a little wide of the topic. I think the member might want to direct that question to the Minister who has charge of that bill.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That question was addressed to the Minister of Police, and it began with “Is she aware that the police are asking for this to be done?”. It does fall within her ministerial responsibility, surely.
The police have never raised that issue with me as Minister of Police. I do not know whether they have raised the issue with the select committee, but they certainly have not raised it with me. If they did I would obviously look at it, but it has not been raised with me by the police.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
When the Minister referred to gang fortresses, what was she talking about, given that in 1990 a former Minister of Police promised to bulldoze them down the day after the election—that, of course, was John Banks in the National Party?
The person who mentioned fortification was actually the National Opposition spokesperson on police. I think he was trying to make some sort of political point, but I think the member has put it into perspective.
John KeyI seek to table, from the Statistics New Zealand website, the police statistics showing that for youth crime among 14 to 16-year-olds, the apprehensions from 1999 to 2007, despite what the Prime Minister has been saying—
Madam SPEAKER