Botany MP and National Party leader Christopher Luxon is calling for Police Minister Poto Williams to be replaced as it’s “clear she’s not equipped” for the job.
Luxon’s call comes amid escalating tensions between several gangs in Auckland and a spate of ram-raid burglaries of commercial retail premises across the city.
“Poto Williams may have skills better suited to other portfolios, but it is clear she is not equipped to be police minister, especially at a time when gang activity and violent crime are increasing,” Luxon says.
“Police officers across the country tell me there is a serious lack of leadership from Poto Williams, and they simply do not have confidence in her.
“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should replace her immediately.”
Luxon says many Kiwis will feel less safe in their homes and communities after the recent spate of gang-related shootings and the “rise in violent crime”.
“Police have the capability and determination to combat the problem, but the Government has failed to give police the powers and tools they need to combat the increase in gang tensions and violent crime across New Zealand.
“For instance, police called for Firearm Prohibition Orders in 2017, which would allow police to take guns out of the hands of gang members.
“Since then National has twice introduced members’ bills to give these powers to police, but Labour has voted them down both times.
“We need to empower police to combat rising crime, but Police Minister Poto Williams won’t even acknowledge there has been a rise in gang tensions under her watch.
“The prime minister needs to remove her from the portfolio.”
Williams was in east Auckland on June 3 to meet with officers at Counties Manukau East Police headquarters in Flat Bush.
Speaking to the news media afterward, she defended the Labour Government’s response to a series of high-profile ram-raid burglaries and suspected gang-related firearms incidents that have seen houses in Flat Bush and Mellons Bay shot at.
She said she “absolutely refutes” claims by the Opposition that the Government is “soft on crime”.
“Right now, there is a difficult and dynamic time happening in our country.
“We are supporting the police to do the work they need to do to get on top of not only the shootings in the gang environment but also what our retailers and business owners are seeing in terms of ram-raids.
“I know the work we are doing will be effective in that space and I have full confidence the police are working diligently to ensure our communities are safe.”
Opposition MPs questioned Williams in the Parliament on June 7 about the Government’s approach to tackling crime.
National Party police spokesperson Mark Mitchell asked her if she believes gang tensions “have increased under her watch”.
Williams replied that she’d been briefed by Counties Manukau Police district commander, Superintendent Jill Rogers, on the recent tensions between two gangs.
“Police have launched a major disruption and suppression operation in response to these tensions, which have so far resulted in 22 search warrants, supported by the [police] armed offenders squad, 22 arrests, 37 charges laid, and 10 firearms seized, along with 300 rounds of ammunition.”
