3. RON MARK (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
How many assaults on police where a stabbing or cutting weapon was used have been committed in the years ending July 2005 and July 2006, and between July 2006 and today?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Police) Link to this
For the year ending 30 June 2005 there were six recorded assaults on police where a stabbing or cutting weapon was used, there were seven such assaults in 2006, and the figures for the period since 30 June 2006 have not yet been compiled. Police statistics for the calendar year 2006 are due in April 2007.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. In my primary question I asked for the statistics for between July 2006 and today. Those figures, surely, must have been available to the Minister. She has had 4 hours to get that information, and she should have been able to present it.
I am advised by the police that the statistics for that calendar year from July 2006 come out in April 2007. I do not have them.
What does the Minister have to say to the six officers who were stabbed in the period between June 2004 and July 2005—officers who were told in March in 2004 that stab-resistant body armour was to be introduced within 3 months—and will she inform the House when the police are to finally receive the armour they were promised more than 2 years ago?
I would say to those officers that I very much regret that the body armour has not been available for them. There have been problems in getting the stab-proof body armour for them. I can inform the House that the roll-out starts in Counties-Manukau on Monday, in Auckland City on 8 January, and all other districts follow by April 2007.
What does the Minister have to say to the at least nine officers who were stabbed between July 2005 and today—officers who heard the Commissioner of Police promise he would resign if body armour was not introduced during that period—and how can police officers or the public have any confidence in the office of the Commissioner of Police, when no vests or resignations have been forthcoming and front-line police are still waiting?
I would repeat to those officers the same thing that I said in my original answer. The Commissioner of Police who made that promise and undertaking is no longer the Commissioner of Police. The deputy commissioner, Rob Pope, who is highly respected around New Zealand for his role as a police officer, undertook to have the stab-resistant vests in place as soon as possible; in fact, he flew to London to ensure that the problem they were having with the fabric was resolved. I have now given the member the dates for the roll-out of the vests.
I seek the leave of the House to table a newspaper report from March 2004, whereby a police headquarters spokeswoman said that police planned to introduce body armour from June 2004.
I seek leave of the House to table a transcript from the Finance and Expenditure Committee, dated June 2005, whereby the police commissioner pledged to resign if stab-resistant body armour was not delivered within 1 year.
Madam SPEAKERI seek leave to table the Hansard transcript from September this year, whereby Nick Smith—[] I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker.
No. I remind members that during points of order there should be no comment. So would you please proceed, Mr Mark.
I seek leave to table a transcript whereby Nick Smith objected to photos of stabbed officers being tabled as they were “not relevant to New Zealand”.
I seek leave to table section 10 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, which states that an employer must make accessible to employees, and ensure the use of by employees, suitable clothing and equipment to protect themselves.
Keith LockeI seek leave to table statistics from the United States FBI that show that in that police force, where there are guns and Tasers, the assaults on police using a knife or other cutting instrument are more than double those statistics for New Zealand.