Collins denies systemic racism within police

boost police powers to seize the assets of gang members.

Collins said the planned firearms prevention orders were toothless, and police should be given the power to conduct warrantless search powers on people who are subject to such firearms orders.

Asked if she was confident that such powers would not be misused, given claims of systemic racism within the police, Collins said there was absolutely no systemic racism and ‘‘allegations are very easy to make’’.

‘‘It is important that we understand that the people who are often the victims of the spotlight are often Ma¯ ori,’’ she said.

‘‘I was the minister of police for four years ... I believe any accusation that police are systemically racist is frankly wrong, and I will not agree with that unless I saw myself.

‘‘I’ve actually studied unconscious bias, and I think it’s always easy for people to have unconscious bias. But I’d also say that I have seen [in] the police no evidence of systemic racism.’’

Police Minister Poto Williams said she had not been briefed on the potential effect the proposed laws might have on Ma¯ ori.

‘‘We haven’t had specific information with that regard, but what we’re dealing with is the most serious offenders,’’ Williams said.

However, a police consultation document provided to the Cabinet noted that, given the overrepresentation of Ma¯ori in the justice system, Ma¯ ori may be disproportionately affected by Firearm Prohibition Orders.

The report also said Ma¯ori women were overrepresented in victims statistics so may benefit from the greater controls on firearms.

‘‘There is an obligation to act fairly towards Ma¯ori and nonma¯ori. Part of this obligation involves reflecting the importance of wha¯nau, and the interconnectedness of people,’’ a Cabinet briefing on the public consultation read.