The Police and new Justice Minister Ginny Andersen is refusing to say the Government's response to rising crime has been inadequate.
It's set to be a hot topic ahead of October's election, with the Opposition repeatedly accusing the Government of being "soft on crime".
According to Ministry of Justice figures, retail crime shot up 39 percent between 2018 and 2022. New police figures earlier this month showed there were two ram raids per day on average in the six months to the end of May.
Last week, the Government introduced a new offence specifically targeting ram-raiding with a maximum 10-year prison sentence - attempting to fill gaps in the justice system.
When asked by Newshub Nation host Rebecca Wright why it had taken the Government so long to introduce such an offence, Andersen - who only took over the Justice portfolio from embattled former minister Kiri Allan following her resignation this week - said Labour had tried "many different things" to get on top of the issue.
"I totally get it that people are frustrated with the level of crime," Andersen said.
"People have had enough, I've had enough - it's not New Zealand that I know but what I hear time and time again is how great our police service is. I have never once met a business owner or a member of the public, who has been a victim of crime, that has ever complained about the level of service from our police people - they do an outstanding job and I hear that wherever I go.
"I am focused on making sure our police are resourced, that we break the cycle of reoffending whenever we can and, also, we deliver the message there is a line and [if] someone crosses that - they are held accountable and they suffer the consequences of committing that crime."
Nevertheless, Andersen said "I won't say" the Government's response was inadequate.
The minister, however, admitted the Government had more to do.
"I think we need to keep working harder to give New Zealand confidence that we will get on top of this problem," Andersen said. "We've got work to do."
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