Ginny Andersen has hit out at Mark Mitchell saying he's unfit to be Police Minister after describing burglaries, reckless driving and bail breaches as "minor infringements".
Mitchell, who is National's spokesperson for police, made the comments on Wednesday afternoon in a press release criticising Andersen for her claims that the Government is going after gangs.
"More than half of the charges under Operation Cobalt are for dishonesty, traffic offences, or administration offences," Mitchell's statement on Wednesday read. National's spokesperson for police characterised these as "minor infringements".
Andersen, who is the Police Minister, said the categories Mitchell describes as "minor infringements" include burglary, theft, fraud, breaches of bail, reckless driving, driving while disqualified, careless driving, drink driving and offences under the Search and Surveillance Act, Criminal Investigation Act, Child Protection Act, Sentencing Act and Parole Act.
"I want Mark to step up and explain to the Police frontline why he has a problem with them arresting gang members for burglary or theft," she said.
"I want him to explain why he wants gang members committing breaches of bail to face no consequences. I also want him to explain why he thinks reckless driving that endangers lives is 'minor.'"
Andersen said it's "frankly appalling" a former cop would go after hardworking police officers doing their jobs and holding gang members to account for the crimes they commit.
But when Newshub asked Mitchell for his thoughts on the comments made by Andersen, he said it's a "desperate showing" from a Labour Government that has "utterly failed" in law and order.
"While Labour's fourth Police Minister in a year is using government resources and time to attack the Opposition spokesperson, National remains focused on public safety, support for our frontline Police, and holding this Government to account," Mitchell said.
"I'm proud of the job our frontline Police do in a very challenging environment created by this hopeless Labour Government."
Mitchell told Newshub he takes issue with a Government that purports to be 'tough on gangs', while presiding over a 70 percent increase in gang membership, a 33 percent increase in violent crime, and gang-related shootings becoming commonplace.
"Labour has zero credibility in law and order, and none of the four Police Ministers they've had over the past year have changed that," he said.
Labour has been through five Police Ministers since it was elected into power in 2017. Stuart Nash had the role from 2017-2020 but for former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's second term, she changed it up and went with Poto Williams.
But Williams only lasted until mid-2022 when pressure was mounting over a spate of ram raids and National consistently saying the Government was "soft on crime". So up stepped Ardern's Mr Fix-it in Chris Hipkins. He stayed in the role until his promotion to Prime Minister following Ardern's resignation. This saw the Police Minister role come full circle back to Nash but his second stint lasted a blink of an eye - 42 days. He was sacked by Prime Minister Hipkins after allegations he shared confidential Cabinet information. This saw Andersen step up into the role.
This clash between the current Police Minister and aspiring Police Minister comes days after Mitchell made a bold call.
Despite not even having the job, Mitchell told Newshub he's already made a huge call - to ink an exit into his job application. He's given himself a trigger for a sacking.
"People will have to start to see changes in the first 12 months," he said.
Asked if people didn't see changes in that first 12 months whether he would stand down, Mitchell said: "I will resign."
"I'm not the right guy for the job, if I cannot do that and I cannot deliver that, then I will resign."
But Andersen said he should save Kiwis time and resign now.
"Mitchell offered to resign on Monday if he couldn't get crime under control. Given he's demonstrated a lack of desire to charge gang members committing burglary, theft, and fraud, he should save everyone the time and resign today," she said.
Andersen also said the Government has ensured police have the tools at their disposal to crack down on gangs and organised crime.
"This includes 1,800 additional Police, nearly 700 staff working on organised crime, significant financial investments to target organised crime, and the introduction of legislation supported by Police to crack down on gangs during times of gang conflict and to go after their profits," Andersen said.
She also said as of August 3, police have entered 47,017 charges under Operation Cobalt.
"These are criminal charges, which are separate from Infringement Offence Notices, of which 60,101 have been issued by Police under Operation Cobalt. Police have also seized 479 illegally held firearms amid the operation," Andersen said.
