A major plan to get guns off gangs is being called a flop - as the Government faces election year pressure over law and order.

Newstalk ZB can reveal two firearm prohibition orders have been issued since they came into force last November.

The so-called FPOs were billed as a way to target violent criminals, banning those with a history of offending from being anywhere near a gun.

Police Minister Ginny Andersen says decisions to issue an order are up to the courts, and the tool has only been available for a few months.

But National says the Government pushed through a toothless law to take guns off on gangs - and is now paying the price.

National claims a major plank of the Government's gang gun crackdown would be a joke, if the issue wasn't so serious.

National police spokesperson Mark Mitchell says the tool is ineffective and bureaucratic.

"To me, it was just always a sloppy piece of legislation that was never designed to be responsive to the needs of the public in terms of keeping them safe and in terms of giving police the powers that they needed."

Mark Mitchell says they're looking for any reason to avoid tough measures.

"Just goes to show, really, how focused and how seriously they're actually taking these issues. It's never been one of their priorities."