Lole-Taylor Asenati: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLole-Taylor Asenati: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 05 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13313. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.Le’aufa’amuliaASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR (NZ First) to theMinister of Police: What reports if any has she received from the Police concerning public harassment and intimidation from street prostitutes and their clients in South Auckland?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Police): I have not received any specific reports from police about public harassment and intimidation from street prostitutes and their clients in South Auckland. I have however received two reports regarding the Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill and both of these reports contain some comment on street-based sex workers in Auckland.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: What does she have to say to parents in South Auckland who every day have to walk their children to school in order to protect them from street prostitutes their pimps and their clients?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am aware of considerable concerns from the community around street-based prostitution in some areas of South Auckland and it is quite right that people should feel free to walk on the streets and walk their children to school. However street-based prostitution is not illegal. The police do actively patrol known trouble spots and they do work to diffuse any antisocial behaviour. But look if anymember of the public feels that they are being harassed or intimidated they should report that to the police and I would expect that the police would take some action.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: Does the Minister think that it is concerning that there is such a high demand for very young girls to work as street prostitutes and that pimps are actively recruiting schoolchildren some as young as 14 years old and will she instruct the police to take action to prevent children in school uniforms on their way to and from school from being approached by men seeking to hire them for sexual favours; if not why not?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: First of all I am unable to instruct the police under the Policing Act 2008 but I am also aware that there have been concerns raised about under-age sex workers. The police as I say regularly patrol those hot spots. They have reported to me that they have found little evidence of under-age street sex workers but if people do have evidence of that they should make that available to the police. [Interruption]Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: I have evidence Maggie. I will table it soon.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have called the member to ask a supplementary question.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: What does she say to local residents who have said: “The freedom of the street sex trade has become so predominant that no local resident is immune from being approached or intimidated by street sex workers.”?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I said earlier I am aware that there is concern and I would say that that member should encourage that member of the public to come forward to the police with the evidence so that they can take some action.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: Would she feel harassed and intimidated if she was asked while walking down the street “How much for a blow job?”Mr SPEAKER: In so far as the Minister has some police responsibility would the Minister like to attempt to address the question?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Mr Speaker I am blushing.Mr SPEAKER: I don’t blame you.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I have no ministerial responsibility.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Despite the fact that that may be funny it is not a laughing matter out there because that is the reality out there in South Auckland.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member has called a point of order I assume to table a document.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: I am seeking leave to table a letter from some of the parents in South Auckland raising their concerns about what they have been faced withwith regard to street prostitution.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that letter from some concerned parents in the area. Is there any objection to that being done? There is none. It can be so tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.