Claims the process to appoint Ginny Andersen as Police Minister makes a mockery of the crime situation.

Andersen is into her second day of the job after replacing Stuart Nash.

She says more frontline officers is one way to keep New Zealand safe.

National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking the Prime Minister has appointed a junior minister, at a time when crime stats are up.

He says there's a 35 percent increase in retail crime, 45 percent rise in victimisations and a more than 50 percent bump in gang numbers.

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