8. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
Has she received any progress reports on the Government’s promise to provide 300 extra police for Counties-Manukau?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
Yes. I am pleased to advise that the number of front-line police in the Counties-Manukau Police District has increased by 66 since 30 November 2008. In addition, 41 of the 80 recruits due to graduate on 20 August will go to Counties-Manukau. The Government provided $182.5 million in Budget 2009 for extra police, and I am pleased with the progress to date.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes. The New Zealand Police advises that recruitment marketing statistics indicate that the level of interest in policing in Counties-Manukau has never been higher. During the latest Counties-Manukau recruitment campaign 1,940 people registered for recruitment seminars. This was 77 percent higher than the number of seminar registrations during the same period in 2008. That is a fantastic result.
Has she received any information about the people who are expressing an interest in a career with the New Zealand Police?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes. The New Zealand Police is receiving expressions of interest from a wide range of people. For example, the number of people aged 25 and under who have registered for recruitment seminars in Counties-Manukau in the last 2 months stands at 721, which is up from 426 for the same period last year. The number of Māori registrations is 179. That number is up from 73. Pasifika registrations are 387, up from 211. Asian registrations have increased from 103 to 162. Another very good result!
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Is she aware that other police districts around New Zealand are concerned about having to cope with increasing pressure on staff numbers, thanks to this Government’s directive to send most of the new police officers promised and funded by the Labour Government to Counties-Manukau, leaving only about 75 additional police per year to cover the rest of New Zealand?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
That is why this Government is delivering another 300 police for the rest of New Zealand as well. Well done!