New Zealand’s prime minister has been escorted away from a press conference by security forces amid fears he will be confronted by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Christopher Luxon promoted a new policy to get more police on the streets during a media briefing on Albert Street in Auckland’s CBD on Friday.
He was accompanied by his Police Minister Mark Mitchell, a former officer, Deputy Police Minister Casey Costello and Police Chief Andrew Coster.
But as Mr. Luxon answered one of the final questions, a member of his security team rushed over to him, ending the press conference prematurely.
“We have to go,” the security official can be heard saying in a video shared by The New Zealand Herald.
The bodyguard then tapped the prime minister on the shoulder and led him past the rest of the officers. He said, “We have to leave right now, sir.”
Mr. Luxon and his team then left the Good To Go mini-supermarket, where the press conference was held, and joined the queue for public transport.
Luxon’s team reportedly feared he would be caught by pro-Palestinian protesters who were believed to be on their way to the press conference venue.
A member of the Prime Minister’s security team taps Luxon on the shoulder before escorting him outside and away from the venue
Mr Luxon promoted his government’s efforts to increase the number of police officers visible on the streets.
Youth crime, particularly gang crime, is one of the biggest problems facing retailers in New Zealand.
Police spokesman for the rival National Party, Mark Mitchell, said the number of young people joining gangs had risen dramatically over the past five years,
‘New information shows there are more than 8,000 gang members in New Zealand, a 50 percent increase since Labour came to power in 2017.
‘The data reveals a worrying trend that the number of new members aged 18-25 has increased by 75 per cent. This is the most significant increase for any age group and clearly shows that gangs are effectively targeting and recruiting young people.’
Under Mr Luxon’s initiative, the Auckland police force is expected to increase to 63 officers, while Wellington will add 17 officers and Christchurch another 18.
Mr Luxon spoke about a new government policy to increase the number of police officers visible on city streets
“The Chief of Police has announced that there will be more officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch police departments and it is amazing to see that promise being fulfilled in just a few weeks,” Luxon said.
He said the increase in the number of officers in the police force was “more than a great start” and the result of “collaboration”.
Mr Luxon explained that it is important that the government ‘does better’ so that people can feel safe, especially now that cruise ships are returning to New Zealand.
“The police are of course central to the whole issue, but they are working very constructively with the security officers of the various shopping centres and with the city council,” said Mr Luxon.
‘What we are doing here is making sure there are more police on the streets.
‘But most importantly, we restore law and order to New Zealand and people feel safer in their homes, their businesses and their communities.’
He added that having more officers on the streets has yielded results since the initiative started, and that business owners have also noticed a change.
