12. Police—Liquor Licensing of ClubsCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of PolicePolice—Liquor Licensing of Clubs12 CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Police: Is he confident that the Police are behaving appropriately with regard to their responsibilities under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice) on behalf of the Minister of Police: In answering this question can I assist the member by saying that—SPEAKER: Order! On behalf of".Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Sorry. On behalf of the Minister of Police can I assist the member by saying that the police's role under our constitutional arrangements is to enforce the law as they consider appropriate and not with regard to the opinion of the Minister of the day.Chris Bishop: Is it acceptable for police to say to bowling clubs that they will not object to a licence if the club agrees to police suggestions around hours and other licence conditions but they will object if the club doesn't and do these kinds of standover tactics have a place in New Zealand?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister the police have a statutory role of registering objections where appropriate to licensing authorities. The only opportunity they have to engage with licence holders is at a time when licences come up for renewal and I have no criticism of police and licensing authorities and those others involved in the decision making on licences engaging with licence holders to ensure the safe distribution and sale of liquor in our communities.Chris Bishop: What is his response to the decision of Judge Kelly in the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority decision between Rapira-Davies and Patel in which the judge said "Reporting agencies should be careful to avoid 'negotiating' conditions with an applicant in exchange for those agencies not opposing the application. … It would be an improper use of their reporting role …"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister and in pursuit of the relationship of comity between this House and the judiciary I stand by the member of the judiciary's comments.Brett Hudson: Does he think it appropriate that police lodge an objection with no detail behind it to Johnsonville Club's liquor licence renewal application and only then open a direct line of communication with the club something which they could have done prior?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister as I understand the process the police have an obligation when licences come up for renewal to make their views known. That is the basis on which they engage with licence holders. I would suggest that it would be entirely inappropriate for the police at any time that suited them during the currency of a licence to go around and express a view about that licence holder unless there had been a breach of the law.Chris Bishop: When he said "We still need to keep improving if police are going to achieve their ambitious organisational target of 90 percent trust and confidence …" does he think blanket opposition to bowling club licences will build trust and confidence in the police?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister I'm not aware of any blanket opposition by the police to any liquor licences.Chris Bishop: Has he seen the comments of racing Minister the Rt Hon Winston Peters in relation to BYO events at racing tracks—namely "Why are bureaucrats in Wellington interfering with their lifestyle?" and what will he be doing to preserve these great rural traditions?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister as I so often do when I go to the Tauherenīkau races: enjoy myself immensely. Chris Bishop: When the Labour - New Zealand First coalition agreement committed to a serious focus on combating organised crime in light of the recent behaviour by the police can he confirm he did not mean this focus to extend to the Whitby Bowling Club the Island Bay Tennis and Squash Club and the Wellington Bridge Club?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister I have full confidence in the police's strategies for combating all types of crime."