7. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
Does she stand by all of her statements and commitments in relation to resourcing the New Zealand Police?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
If they are reported accurately and in the correct context, yes. In particular, I stand by my statement that New Zealand Police are the finest police in the world.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
When she said on 11 November 2010 that 384 extra front-line police officers had been deployed since December 2008, how many of those 384 officers were funded by the current Government as opposed to the previous Government?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Actually, the numbers that were funded under Budget 2008 were 250, and the member who has just resumed his seat was quite incorrect on that day when he made allegations otherwise.
Shane ArdernCan she provide an update on the impact of the new police officers on the level of public safety in Counties-Manukau Police District?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes. Last month I personally welcomed the 300th new officer into Counties-Manukau Police District. This extra resourcing has allowed the police to take a strong proactive approach to policing by setting up six neighbourhood policing teams, a major crime team, and child abuse teams. The focus on prevention is showing its effect with all crime reduction targets being met in the 2010 calendar year to date. For example, burglary is down 13.5 percent in this last month, compared with the year before. Motor vehicle crime is provisionally down 28.8 percent. These are fantastic results because of positive, proactive policing.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Was Deputy Commissioner Viv Rickard correct when he confirmed to the Law and Order Committee in public session this morning that as at September 2010 the current Government had contributed just 30 new police officers nationwide since it came into Government?
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does she stand by her statement to the House on 11 November 2010 that “this Government is putting in 600 extra police”, given that Deputy Commissioner Viv Rickard confirmed to the Law and Order Committee this morning in public session that not one single officer, as at June 2009, had been funded by the current Government, and therefore 333 of the 600 police she refers to were actually funded by the previous Government?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The member is again wrong. National promised that we would deliver 600 extra police by the end of next year, and we will. We have already delivered over 380 police. The member who has just resumed his seat might have promised them, but we delivered them. [ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERHon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does she stand by her statement that she is shifting more police to the front line, given that Deputy Commissioner Viv Rickard confirmed to the Law and Order Committee in public session this morning that although constabulary staff have been decreasing in many districts, non-constabulary staff have been increasing, which makes a mockery of her claim to be shifting resources to the front line?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Unless the member can give me a direct quote from Deputy Commissioner Rickard, I do not believe for a moment that he said that.