Written questions to the Minister of Police from Stephen Franks MP

Written questions to the Minister of Police from Stephen Franks MP

This page reproduces a series of written questions put to the Minister of Police and Labour MP George Hawkins by ACT MP Stephen Franks.

19247. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Are experienced police arms officers, and other police with practical knowledge of police relationships with currently law-abiding firearms owners, satisfied that firearms registration will be of net benefit for enforcement of laws against violent crime, taking into account all costs`?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I expect police staff, including arms officers, to implement Government legislation on firearms registration.

19248. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he ensured that any advice he has received from officials on firearms registration proposals and issues, has been fully validated by the endorsement of experienced arms officers in the field, equipped to assess the effects on police relationships with currently law-abiding firearms owners and users?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I expect that Police would consult with appropriate staff, in the course of assisting the Government in the further development of its firearms control policy.

19249. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he received advice on the capital financial costs of setting up and implementing the firearm registration system he is reported as promoting in "The Sunday Star Tunes" of 8 October; if so, what is that cost?'

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I have not yet received such advice, but I expect Police to undertake a full costing of firearms registration, as a result of my decision to implement registration over a ten-year period.

This reply also answers written questions Nos 19250 and 19251 (2000).

19252. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he received advice this year, from officials or consultants or advisers, on the costs to the police of damaged relationships and mutual trust with currently law-abiding firearm owners and organisations of firearms owners and users, during the initial registration period of setting up and implementing the firearm registration system he is reported as promoting in "The Sundav Star Tines" of 8 October; if so, what is that cost?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: In reaching my decision to proceed with registration, I am fully aware of the need to maintain a balance between public interest versus administrative effectiveness.

019332 STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he any advice on the risk that currently law-abiding firearms owners and users will interpret a decision to proceed with firearms registration, as a token of likely future Government capitulation to policy pressure from voters opposed generally to firearms ownership and use; if so, what is that advice?

Hon George HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replies: Decisions to proceed with firearms registration have been made after consideration of the benefits to the community, including firearms owners and users, and have not arisen from pressure from any particular group or individual.

019323 STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he received advice this year from officials, consultants or advisers, on the risks of mass disobedience and resistance by currently law-abiding firearms owners and users, during the initial registration period of setting up and implementing the firearm registration system he is reported as promoting in 'The Sunday Star Times' of 8 October; if so, what is the risk?

Hon George HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replies: I am aware of the assertions that some firearms owners will not comply with registration requirements. However, to do so would obviously break the law.

This reply also answers questions 019324 and 019325.

019326 STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he received advice weighing the costs (including potential police/authority relationship problems with currently law abiding firearms owners and users) against the anticipated benefits from the proposed firearms registration system; if so, what was the import of that advice?

Hon George HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replies: I have not commissioned research into the likely impacts of registration on the behaviour of firearms owners. However, I am aware of the assertions of some firearms groups about non-compliance with firearms law, and I consider those assertions to be significantly exaggerated.

This reply also answers written questions numbers 019327, 019328, 019329, 019330 and 019331 (2000).

019245 STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: If a rigorous cost: benefit analysis of his announced proposals for firearms registration and the establishment of an 'Authority' has been done, who has done it, and what are their policy analysis qualifications?

Hon George HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replies: Work was undertaken by Coopers and Lybrand, financial consultants, as part of the Review of Firearms Control in New Zealand (the "Thorp" Report).

This reply also answers written questlon number 19246 (2000).

019243 STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he asked the police to rank the proposed firearm registration system and the expenditure on the proposed Authority against other new programmes or desired expenditures, in terms of value in reducing risks of violent crime; if so, what relative value priority did the police assign to the firearms law change proposals?

Hon George HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replies: The member is referred to my reply to written question no. 19244 (2000).

19323. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he received advice this year from officials, consultants or advisers, on the risks of mass disobedience and resistance by currently law-abiding firearms owners and users, during the initial registration period of setting up and implementing the firearm registration system he is reported as promoting in "The Sunclay Star Tines" of 8 October; if so. what is that risk'?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I am aware of the assertions that some firearms owners will not comply with registration requirements. However, to do so would obviously break the law. This reply also answers questions Nos 19324 and 19325.

19332. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he any advice on the risk that currently law-abiding firearms owners and users will interpret a decision to proceed with firearms registration, as a token of likely future Government capitulation to policy pressure from voters opposed generally to firearms ownership and use; if so, what is that advice''

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: Decisions to proceed with firearms registration have been made after consideration of the benefits to the community, including firearms owners and users, and have not arisen from pressure from any particular Group or individual.

19241. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has lie commissioned, or had the benefit of, any reliable survey advice on the risk that a material part of the currently law-abiding firearms community may interpret firearms registration requirements as a preparation for, or precursor to, further significant limitations on rights to own and use firearms?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I have not commissioned any survey advice on this issue, although I am well aware of the concerns of some firearms owners in this regard.

19242. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Is he aware of any analysis of, or advice on, animal pest control pressure and costs if firearms registration requirements increase the costs and inconvenience of owning and using firearms, particularly for young people and poorer families; if so, what is the import of that analysis or advice?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I am aware of concerns about the impact of registration costs to some firearms owners. In deciding on an implementation period that combines with relicensing firearms owners, I have taken consideration of the need to minimise the impact on owners.

19243. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he asked police to rank the proposed firearm registration system and the expenditure on the proposed Authority against other new programmes or desired expenditures, in terms of value in reducing risks of violent crime; if so, what relative value priority did the police assign to the firearms law change proposals?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: The member is referred to my reply to written question No 19214 (2000).

19244. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Has he asked police to rank the proposed firearm registration system and the expenditure on the proposed Authority against other new programmes or desired expenditures, in terms of value in reducing risks of violent crime, and if not, why not?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: No. I consider firearms registration to be a valuable addition to existing activities, rather than a distinct new component of firearms control.

19245. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: If a rigorous cost:benefit analysis of his announced proposals for firearms registration and the establishment of an "Authority" has been done. who has done it, and what are their policy analsyis qualifications?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: Work was undertaken by Coopers and Lybrand, financial consultants, as part of the Review of Firearms Contra( irz New Zealand (the "Thorp" Report).

This reply also answers written question No 19246 (2000).

Written questions to the Minister of Police from Eric Roy MP

This page reproduces a series of written questions put to the Minister of Police and Labour MP George Hawkins by National MP Eric Roy.

20277. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: What reports has he received on the value of a firearms registration scheme?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I have received a number of reports from police, noting the value of firearms registration within the context of an overall firearms control regime.

20278. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: When does he expect legislation regarding firearms registration to be ready to come before Parliament?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: The Arms Amendment Bill No 2 is due to be reported back to Parliament early next year. I intend introducing an SOP at that time.

20279. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: When does he expect firearms registration to become law?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I intend the law requiring all firearms to be registered to coincide with the commencement of the next phase of relicensing for firearms owners, in 2002.

20280. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: Why has the year 2010 been chosen as the time by when all guns should be registered?

20281. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: What process will be used to measure compliance with gun registration laws?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: As part of planning for the implementation of registration, I expect police to set targets by which the effectiveness of, and compliance with, registration can be assessed.

This reply also answers 20282.

20282. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: What level of compliance with new gun registration laws will be required to maintain an effective registry

20283. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: How will firearms with no serial numbers be registered under new gun registration laws?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: The information collected about each firearm will need to include information that enables firearms without serial numbers to be readily identified. This can be achieved by a combination of other identifying information, together with details of the license holder.

20284. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: Will firearms registration legislation come before Parliament as a new Bill or as an SOP to Firearms Amendment Bill No 2?

No answer received, but see 20278 above

20285. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: Does he expect any new firearms legislation to be put through the select committee process so that members of the public will be able to make submissions?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: Yes.

20286. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: When would he expect the Independent Firearms Authority to be in place?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: The establishment of an independent firearms authority is dependent on the introduction and passage of legislation next year. I intend the authority to be operational by 2002.

20287. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: What will be the functions of the new independent firearms authority?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: The first role of the firearms authority would be to advise government on the administration of firearms control. If appropriate, the authority would be empowered to undertake other duties relating to firearms control.

20288. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: Where will the funding come from to maintain a firearms registry and the independent firearms authority? The funding of firearms registration and of an independent firearms authority will depend on their nature, scope and timing.

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: I expect Police to inform me of the financial impact of these issues as part of the policy process.

20289. ERIC ROY to the Minister of Police: What does he expect the annual cost of maintaining a firearms registry to be, compared to the present gun owners registry?

Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) replied: The cost of adding new data to the existing firearms license data held by police will depend on the range of data that is collected and the transactions required to upkeep the register.