The pre-Budget announcement made by the Government on Sunday that Police numbers will be increased has been met with scathing comments from both National's candidate for Tauranga Sam Uffindell and ACT party Police spokesperson Chris Baillie.

Sam Uffindell says that Labour is ignoring the true cause of what he says are the 'exploding gang numbers in the Bay of Plenty”.

'Today's pre-Budget announcement shows Labour is oblivious to its soft-on-crime approach being the true cause of exploding gang numbers,” says Sam.

'The Bay of Plenty has the highest number of gang members of any district in the country, more than Auckland's three police districts combined.”

On Sunday morning, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi, Police Minister Poto Williams and Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis announced a joined-up package of law and order measures to further increase Police numbers, address gang violence and extend successful rehabilitation programmes that are intended to break the cycle of offending and entering a life of crime.

ACT's Police spokesperson Chris Baillie who is also a former police officer says that the Government's promise of more cops on the beat 'has been made to cover for the fact it's failing to meet its last promise”.

'In 2017, Labour promised 1,800 new police officers. It still hasn't achieved that goal. With exploding crime, it's scrambling to make new promises so people forget about the old ones,” says Chris.

ACT's Police spokesperson Chris Baillie. Photo: Martin de Ruyter/Stuff.

The Government has announced it is investing over $562 million over four years into Police, $94 million into tackling gangs and organised crime, and an extra $164.6 million operating and $20.7 million capital funding over four years to expand the highly successful Tactical Response Model. It will also put funding into more Police dog units and an additional $208 million over four years to establish a new Firearms Business Unit within Police.

'Instead of focusing on improving outcomes, Labour's approach to an issue is to throw more money at it and hope for a different result,” says Sam.

Sam, who spent time on Saturday morning talking with local residents at Mount Maunganui ahead of his campaign launch, has a background in fighting financial crime. He says thanks to Labour's soft-on-crime approach, gang membership has shot up by almost 40 per cent in Bay of Plenty and gang members outnumber police almost two-to-one.

'National would focus on getting results and cracking down on gang crime in our communities. We would strengthen Firearms Protection Orders to help Police take guns off the gangs and send a clear signal that we won't tolerate gangs peddling meth and misery in our communities.

'Everyone in Tauranga can see how emboldened gangs have become in the past few years, with constant brazen displays on our streets and intimidation of people going about their day.

'I'm aspirational for Tauranga and want it to be the best place to live, work and raise a family. As your strong local voice, I will stand up to gangs, criminals and anti-social behaviour in our communities.”

Chris says Government ministers can't even agree on how many new cops have been recruited.

'The Police Minister says, ‘we have put 1,400 extra cops on the beat'. The Prime Minister declared 1,800 new police officers had been ‘promised and delivered'. That claim was subsequently shot down by Poto Williams. The Police Association says just 1,273 have been recruited,” says Chris.

'While Ministers squabble about the numbers, crime on our streets has exploded, and gangs are recruiting faster than Police.

'There are reports of gang crime and shootings most days and people do not feel safe in our communities.”

Act's Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton says while he was out campaigning with party leader David Seymour in Pyes Pa on Saturday campaigning, he met residents who expressed their concerns about crime.

'We're talking with people and hearing the issues that are affecting the people of Tauranga,' says Cameron.

'There is the issue of crime, and how people are beginning to feel unsafe in their communities.”

Act's Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton with party leader David Seymour talking with residents on the corner of Annandale Drive and Fairfax Crescent in Pyes Pa on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.

'The Government needs to sort out its priorities and start focusing on the safety of the public and police officers,” says Chris.

'As a former police officer, I look at the increasing dangers that Police are facing and worry for them. Gangs are recruiting much faster than the Police.

'ACT would introduce Gang Control Orders to crack down on gang members. This would allow the Police to apply to the courts for an injunction against an individual on the National Gang List, which could be used to prohibit bad behaviours including being in a particular location or associating with particular people. It could also be used to require positive actions, like attending rehabilitation.

'We would also implement a standard annual increase in the Police staffing budget in line with population growth. This would provide a steady increase in funding for police recruitment over time to meet population needs and ensure that Police numbers increase as they are needed, instead of leaving it to hollow political promises.

'Police need to feel like the Government supports them. Right now, it doesn't.”