4. Police Resourcing—Police Stations and Community PolicingRON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of PolicePolice Resourcing—Police Stations and Community Policing4. RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Police: Does the closure of police stations meet current Government policy?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Children) on behalf of the Minister of Police: The location of police stations is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police. However it is Government policy that the Police should be continually looking at improving the way the public can access police services. Earlier this year the Police announced the locations of 20 new 24/7 response bases which means that these stations will be operational 24/7 covering 200000 more New Zealanders. These steps make police more accessible and more visible so that officers can be where people need them when they need them and of course Budget 2017 delivered funding for 500 more officers straight to the front line over the next 4 years. But technology is changing how we communicate across the board and New Zealanders do want to engage with police in different ways whether it is by text or email or face to face in their own homes or businesses.Ron Mark: Given the 31 police stations her Government either closed or relocated between 2009 and 2014 and now the closure of 21 police stations around the country including Warkworth and Wellsford can she give an assurance to New Zealanders that her Government will not close down any more police stations in the next 12 months?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I repeat what I said in the primary question which is that the location of police stations is an operational matter for the commissioner so he or she would make those decisions. However I do also think that the member is mixing up police stations with front counters.Ron Mark: How will these closures make police more visible in communities given her statement in February that it is important knowing there is a nearby police presence at all times" or fit with her promise that 95 percent of New Zealanders would live within 25 kilometres of a 24/7 police presence? Are we all expected to move house now?Mr SPEAKER: Order! The last part is unnecessary.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I said in my answer to the primary question we do expect the Police to continually improve people's access to its services but that does not necessarily mean a policeman or policewoman sitting in a police station. Today people want to communicate with them using technology they want to have them out on the streets and to my knowledge not many criminals actually come into police stations in order to commit crimes.Ron Mark: Very good point Minister. So Minister with that last comment in mind if closure is due to her Government's occupational safety and health law changes with volunteers not having "necessary training and physical protection measures"—from the criminals who are not going to come in apparently now—what does this mean for Community Patrols of New Zealand or for the Māori wardens or for neighbourhood watch or for any person who voluntarily assists police in their work? Are they going to get chucked next?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The Police does value the services of volunteers and there are many. However some front counters have been temporarily closed to the public due to safety concerns while the Police complete a full front-counter safety review.Ron Mark: Then can the Minister give the communities of Ōrewa Warkworth Wellsford Arrowtown Whangaparāoa Taitā Kilbirnie or any of the others listed in the announcement and all of their volunteers assurance that all of their volunteer stations will be reopened?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I said in the answer to the primary question that is a decision for the commissioner.Denis O'Rourke: That's no answer.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: That is an operational—well it is the answer; that is the law actually. But what I can guarantee is that police services will be maintained in those communities.Stuart Nash: Is the increase in the amount of P on the streets higher because of a lack of local community-based police over the last 9 years?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No."