Paul Goldsmith says homeless move-on bill being 'mischaracterised' as Police Association raises concerns

The Justice Minister insists the government's move-on orders are being mischaracterised as the Police Association raises concerns.

Association president Steve Watts this week said the Summary Offences (Move-On Orders) Amendment Bill addressed the symptoms of rough sleeping, but not the cause.

"The bill risks placing police in a role of managing the visible effects of homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, poverty, and youth vulnerability, rather than addressing the underlying causes," he previously said.

He also pointed out officers already had powers to address disorderly or offensive behaviour, assault and obstruction, property damage, and graffiti.

Paul Goldsmith responded on Morning Report saying the bill was still necessary.

"I think anybody that has been to the Auckland CBD or many of our town squares around the country realise that there is a problem that we're trying to resolve."

He said while the existing law already covered offences like disorderly behaviour and intimidation, but the introduced bill gave police the ability "to make a move-on order".

"The clear advice I've had for what is happening in the real world is when people are shouting or swearing at other people on the street, that's not meeting the threshold, but the move-on orders will be able to apply it more effectively. "

"If you're lying in a sleeping bag on the ground, on a bench or in a doorway, that is currently not covered by any offence."

He said the government was trying to create a safe environment for the public and people were mischaracterising the bill.

Goldsmith said the bill was not the only response to homelessness and there were other measures in place to combat the issue.

When asked where rough sleepers are directed to when they are moved on, the minister said it depends on the circumstance.

"It may be that they might point them in the direction of the city mission."

He said while the city commission closed at 5pm there was the immediate access transitional housing program that operates 24-7.

However, Auckland City Mission has said this is not entirely correct.

It said beds are funded to offer 24/7 support, meaning there are support staff on site 24/7 but people are assessed for, and can access, beds Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5.30pm.

"People are also not infrequently dumped outside the Mission doors in the middle of the night from ED, where they must wait on the footpath, in the dark and cold, for our doors to open at 8am. There is nowhere else for these people to go."

It said there were 20 beds in the existing transitional housing facility, tagged 'immediate access', which meant there were fewer criteria for entry and there is additional support funded for those beds.

It added another Auckland housing provider has 45 beds tagged for 'immediate access', bringing the total in the city to 65, none of which can be accessed 24/7.