1 00:00:09,093 --> 00:00:12,693 Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talk Z'B follow 2 00:00:12,773 --> 00:00:16,133 Speaker 1: this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:16,653 --> 00:00:21,093 Speaker 2: We are talking about the drop in victims of violent 4 00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:24,733 Speaker 2: crime forty nine thousand according to the latest survey from 5 00:00:24,773 --> 00:00:27,213 Speaker 2: the Ministry of Justice. So the question we've got viewers 6 00:00:27,213 --> 00:00:30,053 Speaker 2: when it comes to reducing crime, what do you think 7 00:00:30,173 --> 00:00:32,452 Speaker 2: has worked? Is it the tough on crime approacher? Is 8 00:00:32,453 --> 00:00:34,653 Speaker 2: there more to it than just that yet A. 9 00:00:34,732 --> 00:00:37,253 Speaker 3: Jeff, Yeah, Hey, guys, how you doing very good? 10 00:00:37,412 --> 00:00:38,093 Speaker 2: What's your thoughts? 11 00:00:38,613 --> 00:00:41,693 Speaker 3: Look, we're I'm in a retail business and we've got 12 00:00:41,732 --> 00:00:45,412 Speaker 3: stores all around New Zealand and we've noticed a huge 13 00:00:45,452 --> 00:00:49,933 Speaker 3: difference in RAM raids and over the last two or 14 00:00:49,973 --> 00:00:52,053 Speaker 3: three years. In the last eighteen months we haven't had 15 00:00:52,092 --> 00:00:55,813 Speaker 3: a RAM raid, but previous to that and from twenty 16 00:00:55,973 --> 00:00:58,453 Speaker 3: twenty one to twenty twenty three, we had about six 17 00:00:58,573 --> 00:01:02,813 Speaker 3: or seven RAM raids across our networker stores. And we're 18 00:01:02,853 --> 00:01:06,333 Speaker 3: also getting a lot less, a lot less dramas with 19 00:01:07,013 --> 00:01:11,053 Speaker 3: aggressive shop list bans stuff. So we've certainly noticed a difference. 20 00:01:12,333 --> 00:01:13,693 Speaker 2: And what do you put that down to? I mean, 21 00:01:13,813 --> 00:01:16,133 Speaker 2: is it this tough on crime approach? And to break 22 00:01:16,133 --> 00:01:18,932 Speaker 2: it down even further the introduction of these ballards, trying 23 00:01:18,973 --> 00:01:22,213 Speaker 2: to give some some funding to you know, install these 24 00:01:22,253 --> 00:01:25,212 Speaker 2: anti crime prevention measures or is it across the board. 25 00:01:26,253 --> 00:01:28,613 Speaker 3: It's well, it's across the board. I mean we've we've 26 00:01:28,613 --> 00:01:31,253 Speaker 3: spent an awful lot of money on billards and stuff 27 00:01:31,333 --> 00:01:34,053 Speaker 3: like that. But in the last eighteen months, I haven't 28 00:01:34,053 --> 00:01:38,013 Speaker 3: had a single RAM raid, and it's and and further 29 00:01:38,093 --> 00:01:40,092 Speaker 3: the ram raids. We had a lot of other burglaries 30 00:01:40,093 --> 00:01:42,493 Speaker 3: where where people would come through the roofs and rip 31 00:01:42,533 --> 00:01:44,973 Speaker 3: the roofing iron off or you know, get around it 32 00:01:45,053 --> 00:01:47,372 Speaker 3: a different way. But in the last eighteen months, no 33 00:01:47,453 --> 00:01:48,613 Speaker 3: burglaries at all. 34 00:01:49,653 --> 00:01:52,373 Speaker 2: Which is phenomenal. So how many ram raids were you 35 00:01:52,453 --> 00:01:54,053 Speaker 2: getting on on a regular basis? 36 00:01:55,053 --> 00:01:56,813 Speaker 3: Oh, there was a period of time there where we 37 00:01:56,813 --> 00:01:59,653 Speaker 3: were getting one every two months. And you know, like 38 00:01:59,693 --> 00:02:02,173 Speaker 3: I'm every night, I'm sleeping with my phone beside the 39 00:02:02,213 --> 00:02:04,333 Speaker 3: bed and you know, you dread the call at three 40 00:02:04,373 --> 00:02:06,733 Speaker 3: am and it's like the store's got a you know, 41 00:02:06,813 --> 00:02:09,733 Speaker 3: the police are ringing and it's been another ram raid, 42 00:02:09,853 --> 00:02:12,412 Speaker 3: and there's just so much to deal with. Yes, yeah, 43 00:02:12,773 --> 00:02:15,852 Speaker 3: I mean so recently, recent times it's been great. And 44 00:02:16,493 --> 00:02:20,293 Speaker 3: I have to link that with the tougher on crime approach, 45 00:02:20,333 --> 00:02:23,853 Speaker 3: I can't see any other way around it. There's just 46 00:02:23,933 --> 00:02:25,213 Speaker 3: been less incidences. 47 00:02:25,653 --> 00:02:28,613 Speaker 2: How are the Star feeling oh a lot better? 48 00:02:28,693 --> 00:02:28,893 Speaker 4: Yeah? 49 00:02:28,893 --> 00:02:31,333 Speaker 3: I bet we Yeah. I think I talked to you 50 00:02:31,373 --> 00:02:33,053 Speaker 3: guys a couple of years ago when we had one 51 00:02:33,093 --> 00:02:35,493 Speaker 3: of our stores we had to close the doors and 52 00:02:35,613 --> 00:02:38,453 Speaker 3: keep the doors closed and only let people in by 53 00:02:38,532 --> 00:02:42,373 Speaker 3: appointment because we have so many issues of crime. And 54 00:02:43,173 --> 00:02:45,613 Speaker 3: that stor's fully open again and it's much better. 55 00:02:45,853 --> 00:02:49,213 Speaker 2: Yeah, Jeff, thank you very much for giving us a buzz. 56 00:02:49,252 --> 00:02:51,532 Speaker 2: I mean, it's fantastic to hear what's happened in your 57 00:02:51,573 --> 00:02:54,173 Speaker 2: particular business. And you're a retailer with twenty five stores, 58 00:02:54,173 --> 00:02:57,532 Speaker 2: so remarkable improvement in the number of ram raids, which 59 00:02:57,573 --> 00:03:00,733 Speaker 2: is a funny thing to say, but you know, fantastic 60 00:03:00,813 --> 00:03:03,493 Speaker 2: that you're not seeing that that extent anymore. 61 00:03:04,093 --> 00:03:04,213 Speaker 5: Right. 62 00:03:04,293 --> 00:03:06,493 Speaker 2: Nine two ninety two is the text. Love to your 63 00:03:06,532 --> 00:03:08,373 Speaker 2: thoughts on this. But as we've been talking about, the 64 00:03:08,413 --> 00:03:11,653 Speaker 2: New Zealand government says it's tough on crime policies are working. 65 00:03:11,733 --> 00:03:14,213 Speaker 2: The latest survey shows forty nine thousand fewer victims of 66 00:03:14,293 --> 00:03:16,333 Speaker 2: violent crime in the year to October twenty twenty five 67 00:03:16,373 --> 00:03:18,693 Speaker 2: compared with two years ago. To discuss further, we are 68 00:03:18,773 --> 00:03:22,413 Speaker 2: joined by Police Minister Mark Metchell. Minister, very good afternoon. 69 00:03:22,053 --> 00:03:24,733 Speaker 4: To you, Giddo Tyler. How are you guys? 70 00:03:25,133 --> 00:03:27,493 Speaker 5: Very good? Thanks for joining us. How robust is the 71 00:03:27,532 --> 00:03:30,573 Speaker 5: Ministry of Justice New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey? 72 00:03:31,933 --> 00:03:34,453 Speaker 4: Well, I mean that's the measure that we've always has 73 00:03:34,453 --> 00:03:36,773 Speaker 4: always been there, and obviously we're using in terms of 74 00:03:37,493 --> 00:03:39,973 Speaker 4: how many victims and how many victimizations are coming into 75 00:03:40,013 --> 00:03:42,533 Speaker 4: our criminal justice system. But I just wanted to really 76 00:03:42,573 --> 00:03:46,613 Speaker 4: take a moment to just acknowledge Jeff who I listened 77 00:03:46,653 --> 00:03:49,173 Speaker 4: to the interview with him, and he hit on it perfectly. 78 00:03:49,253 --> 00:03:52,093 Speaker 4: And the thing that used to strike me was with 79 00:03:52,173 --> 00:03:55,333 Speaker 4: the amount of retail crime and violent retail crime that 80 00:03:55,373 --> 00:03:58,373 Speaker 4: we're experiencing our country, the amount of anxiety and stress 81 00:03:58,933 --> 00:04:02,893 Speaker 4: that goes on the owners of these businesses and literally 82 00:04:03,533 --> 00:04:06,773 Speaker 4: the sleepless nights fearing the phone going and telling them 83 00:04:06,773 --> 00:04:09,093 Speaker 4: that something else had happened, and of course you know 84 00:04:09,133 --> 00:04:11,373 Speaker 4: that that flows on to their employees as well. So 85 00:04:11,973 --> 00:04:15,533 Speaker 4: we've definitely made some good progress. Police are working with 86 00:04:15,573 --> 00:04:19,373 Speaker 4: those businesses as well. It's definitely a team effort, but 87 00:04:19,373 --> 00:04:20,893 Speaker 4: We've still got a long way to go. There's still 88 00:04:20,933 --> 00:04:22,373 Speaker 4: you know, we still have to do a lot more 89 00:04:23,333 --> 00:04:25,213 Speaker 4: to get on top of the violent crime in our country. 90 00:04:25,213 --> 00:04:27,013 Speaker 4: But we're certainly, you know, in terms of our own 91 00:04:27,053 --> 00:04:28,973 Speaker 4: targets that we've set, we're exceeding those at the moment. 92 00:04:29,013 --> 00:04:29,773 Speaker 4: So that's a good thing. 93 00:04:30,053 --> 00:04:33,173 Speaker 5: What do you think's led to this reduction in crime. 94 00:04:34,213 --> 00:04:36,493 Speaker 4: I think it's a it's been a whole When I 95 00:04:36,493 --> 00:04:39,133 Speaker 4: see a whole system, it's always about people, but it's 96 00:04:39,173 --> 00:04:42,013 Speaker 4: everyone that's in the criminal justice system itself. So the 97 00:04:42,013 --> 00:04:43,813 Speaker 4: people that are trying to make the courts go fast 98 00:04:43,813 --> 00:04:46,293 Speaker 4: to get the cases in front of the judges quicker, 99 00:04:46,373 --> 00:04:50,293 Speaker 4: have less people in ramand in our prisons, and obviously 100 00:04:51,173 --> 00:04:54,293 Speaker 4: a change of sentencing laws, a change of you know, 101 00:04:54,933 --> 00:04:57,733 Speaker 4: a return of three strikes. A big focus with me 102 00:04:57,813 --> 00:05:01,573 Speaker 4: on police being highly visible back in the communities, beat teams, 103 00:05:01,933 --> 00:05:04,853 Speaker 4: getting disruption units, allowing them to get onto their core 104 00:05:04,933 --> 00:05:06,533 Speaker 4: role and pulling them out of the stuff some of 105 00:05:06,573 --> 00:05:10,533 Speaker 4: the stuff they shouldn't be doing, mental health workers and 106 00:05:10,533 --> 00:05:14,613 Speaker 4: things like that, and working with our shopkeepers. And I 107 00:05:14,613 --> 00:05:17,533 Speaker 4: think that that is in our security sector. I think 108 00:05:17,533 --> 00:05:20,653 Speaker 4: what you've seen is as a whole of society response 109 00:05:21,533 --> 00:05:23,773 Speaker 4: and it's and it's working for us now. 110 00:05:24,613 --> 00:05:28,173 Speaker 5: Labor Minister Willie Jackson said this, and I quote, that's 111 00:05:28,213 --> 00:05:30,933 Speaker 5: all nonsense. This is about how people feel. We're not 112 00:05:30,973 --> 00:05:34,133 Speaker 5: talking about police surveys here. You know, I know drug 113 00:05:34,213 --> 00:05:36,573 Speaker 5: uses going through the roof, so they are just using 114 00:05:36,573 --> 00:05:37,733 Speaker 5: nonsensical surveys. 115 00:05:39,293 --> 00:05:41,373 Speaker 4: Yeah. I take with what he says with it with 116 00:05:41,413 --> 00:05:44,613 Speaker 4: a grain salt. He was he fought against the Gang 117 00:05:44,653 --> 00:05:48,493 Speaker 4: Pitch Band along with Bill O'Reilly, who's a long term 118 00:05:48,613 --> 00:05:51,613 Speaker 4: patch member of among them the Black Power. Bill was 119 00:05:51,613 --> 00:05:53,853 Speaker 4: out there. Him and I had never really seen eye 120 00:05:53,893 --> 00:05:56,213 Speaker 4: to eye, but huge respect and upstilm that he came 121 00:05:56,213 --> 00:05:58,173 Speaker 4: out today and said, look, the Gang Pitch Band has 122 00:05:58,173 --> 00:06:02,053 Speaker 4: been very good. It's made gang members reevaluate their lives, 123 00:06:02,413 --> 00:06:05,173 Speaker 4: the lives that their kids are growing up in. It's 124 00:06:05,213 --> 00:06:07,973 Speaker 4: taken away all the aggression and stigma associated with having 125 00:06:07,973 --> 00:06:11,653 Speaker 4: to put on so it's had a positive social change 126 00:06:11,653 --> 00:06:13,293 Speaker 4: for us. And that was always why I wanted to 127 00:06:13,293 --> 00:06:16,013 Speaker 4: bring that Gang Pitch in, is that you can do 128 00:06:16,053 --> 00:06:17,733 Speaker 4: the tough on crime stuff. We've got to do that. 129 00:06:17,733 --> 00:06:19,613 Speaker 4: There's bad people out there that do bad things and 130 00:06:19,613 --> 00:06:22,133 Speaker 4: there's got to be consequences, but the way that the 131 00:06:22,573 --> 00:06:25,453 Speaker 4: Gang Pitch Band has actually driven some really positive social 132 00:06:25,533 --> 00:06:28,293 Speaker 4: change for us as well. So you know, Willie was 133 00:06:28,293 --> 00:06:29,853 Speaker 4: one of the guys out there. Don't say and don't 134 00:06:29,853 --> 00:06:31,613 Speaker 4: do it. It's going to be a disaster, it won't work. 135 00:06:31,693 --> 00:06:34,413 Speaker 4: So that labor, in my view, don't have much credibility 136 00:06:34,413 --> 00:06:36,533 Speaker 4: when it comes to public safety. In fact, they have none, 137 00:06:37,373 --> 00:06:39,653 Speaker 4: because you know, I've dedicated most of my life and 138 00:06:39,693 --> 00:06:42,893 Speaker 4: my country, which I love dearly, to public safety. And 139 00:06:42,933 --> 00:06:46,373 Speaker 4: I watched under six years of labor a wrecking ball 140 00:06:46,413 --> 00:06:48,853 Speaker 4: put through it and all of our stets heading in 141 00:06:48,893 --> 00:06:51,733 Speaker 4: the wrong direction, and slowly but surely we're bringing that 142 00:06:51,773 --> 00:06:55,133 Speaker 4: back under control, and we're heading in a positive, you know, 143 00:06:55,413 --> 00:06:55,933 Speaker 4: in direction. 144 00:06:56,373 --> 00:06:58,613 Speaker 2: Minister. We talk about the one news story after you 145 00:06:58,653 --> 00:07:00,933 Speaker 2: announced these figures and then they ran the gang story 146 00:07:00,933 --> 00:07:03,853 Speaker 2: and we mentioned your Facebook post, But what was your 147 00:07:03,893 --> 00:07:06,093 Speaker 2: biggest issue with the way that was presented? 148 00:07:06,893 --> 00:07:09,173 Speaker 4: Well, so for me, we have a huge opportunity in 149 00:07:09,173 --> 00:07:12,053 Speaker 4: our country. When you see what's happening around the world, 150 00:07:12,093 --> 00:07:14,893 Speaker 4: and you know, the geopolitical tensions and the conflict, and 151 00:07:15,213 --> 00:07:17,853 Speaker 4: we're living in a world of disinformation and misinformation, we 152 00:07:17,933 --> 00:07:20,533 Speaker 4: have a huge opportunity in our country to do things differently, 153 00:07:20,533 --> 00:07:24,493 Speaker 4: and that is engage in debate with one another respectfully. 154 00:07:25,653 --> 00:07:28,453 Speaker 4: And you know, and we have a strong system in 155 00:07:28,453 --> 00:07:30,653 Speaker 4: New Zealand because we have the fourth estate, the media, 156 00:07:30,653 --> 00:07:32,933 Speaker 4: which got a very important role. We've got our judiciary, 157 00:07:33,213 --> 00:07:35,293 Speaker 4: and we've got our executive, we've got in our Parliament 158 00:07:36,013 --> 00:07:37,773 Speaker 4: and they all have an important role to play. But 159 00:07:38,013 --> 00:07:41,053 Speaker 4: when one of them starts to be perceived by the 160 00:07:41,093 --> 00:07:44,653 Speaker 4: public has not been balanced and not doing their job properly. 161 00:07:44,693 --> 00:07:45,933 Speaker 4: And I think that when you look at the one 162 00:07:45,973 --> 00:07:48,733 Speaker 4: News article last night, there was that was clearly an 163 00:07:48,773 --> 00:07:51,613 Speaker 4: example of that. And I have to say, in all 164 00:07:51,653 --> 00:07:54,293 Speaker 4: fairness and huge acknowledgment and respect to TV one is 165 00:07:54,333 --> 00:07:57,173 Speaker 4: they called me today and they apologized for the way 166 00:07:57,173 --> 00:07:58,813 Speaker 4: that they dealt with and around that story. And my 167 00:07:58,853 --> 00:08:01,213 Speaker 4: message to them, quite simply was if you want to 168 00:08:01,253 --> 00:08:04,853 Speaker 4: maintain public confidence, just engage in balance journalism. We're not 169 00:08:04,893 --> 00:08:07,533 Speaker 4: asking for any favors, but you shouldn't be a mouthpiece 170 00:08:07,573 --> 00:08:11,413 Speaker 4: for the opposition, you know, just engage in balanced journalism. 171 00:08:11,493 --> 00:08:13,333 Speaker 4: That's all the public want to see. 172 00:08:13,093 --> 00:08:15,453 Speaker 5: Why do you think the national broadcaster would choose to 173 00:08:15,493 --> 00:08:18,533 Speaker 5: be unbalanced on a situation do you think it's accidental? 174 00:08:20,693 --> 00:08:23,173 Speaker 4: Ah, you know what, that's that's a really good question. 175 00:08:23,253 --> 00:08:29,973 Speaker 4: And the simple answer is, guys, I don't know, but 176 00:08:30,213 --> 00:08:33,573 Speaker 4: I think that I think that most kiwis are smart 177 00:08:33,693 --> 00:08:37,053 Speaker 4: enough and they work it out. But I think that 178 00:08:37,093 --> 00:08:39,573 Speaker 4: there has been definitely a problem around a lack of 179 00:08:40,892 --> 00:08:44,852 Speaker 4: balance journalism and a clear bias, and I hope that 180 00:08:44,852 --> 00:08:47,453 Speaker 4: that changes because we're not asking to be cut any slack, 181 00:08:48,492 --> 00:08:51,453 Speaker 4: not asking for any favors. We're just asking for a 182 00:08:51,492 --> 00:08:54,813 Speaker 4: fear go in balance journalism and let kiwis have that 183 00:08:54,892 --> 00:08:56,973 Speaker 4: as well, so they could be properly informed and make 184 00:08:57,012 --> 00:08:58,093 Speaker 4: their decisions based on that. 185 00:08:58,693 --> 00:09:01,253 Speaker 5: Now, Minister, just quickly before we go to the ads, 186 00:09:01,252 --> 00:09:05,093 Speaker 5: because we're always backed up by ads. Here you becoming 187 00:09:05,093 --> 00:09:08,893 Speaker 5: and strong. So there's still one hundred and thirty six thousand, 188 00:09:09,852 --> 00:09:13,693 Speaker 5: you know, victims of crime. Yeah, and that's so how 189 00:09:13,732 --> 00:09:14,772 Speaker 5: can we go of that number? 190 00:09:15,413 --> 00:09:15,493 Speaker 1: Now? 191 00:09:15,612 --> 00:09:17,292 Speaker 4: There's a lot still a long way to go, guys, 192 00:09:17,492 --> 00:09:20,853 Speaker 4: and you know, we're certainly not resiling from that, and 193 00:09:20,852 --> 00:09:22,892 Speaker 4: it's tough work, but we committed to it, and we 194 00:09:23,012 --> 00:09:25,693 Speaker 4: just got to keep doing what we're doing and listen 195 00:09:25,732 --> 00:09:27,533 Speaker 4: to our front line, the people on the front line, 196 00:09:27,573 --> 00:09:29,453 Speaker 4: and get feedback from them in terms of how we 197 00:09:29,453 --> 00:09:31,933 Speaker 4: can look for continual improvement and support them from government 198 00:09:32,093 --> 00:09:35,213 Speaker 4: and just keep moving in that direction. And we should 199 00:09:35,252 --> 00:09:37,892 Speaker 4: be positive. The sun's outshining. We live in a beautiful country. 200 00:09:38,773 --> 00:09:40,813 Speaker 4: You know. We've come through a really tough period in 201 00:09:40,813 --> 00:09:43,093 Speaker 4: the last couple of years, but I actually think that 202 00:09:43,132 --> 00:09:44,732 Speaker 4: there's light at the end of the tunnel and we're 203 00:09:44,933 --> 00:09:45,893 Speaker 4: moving in the right direction. 204 00:09:46,053 --> 00:09:48,973 Speaker 2: Yeah, nice way to finish. Police Minister Mark Mitchell, thank 205 00:09:49,012 --> 00:09:50,973 Speaker 2: you very much for joining us. We'll catch up again soon. 206 00:09:51,453 --> 00:09:52,413 Speaker 4: Hey, thanks for having me on. 207 00:09:52,492 --> 00:09:56,093 Speaker 1: Guys. For more from News Talks b listen live on 208 00:09:56,132 --> 00:09:59,132 Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever 209 00:09:59,173 --> 00:10:01,732 Speaker 1: you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.