7. Police Minister—ConfidenceRON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Prime MinisterPolice Minister—Confidence7. RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in his Minister of Police; if so why?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Prime Minister): Yes because she is a competent and capable Minister and is working with the Police to implement a $500 million package that involves a net increase of 1100 new police staff over the next few years. Ron Mark: How can he have confidence in his Minister of Police when she made a premature announcement on 14 February that there would be 140 new rural officers yet has no idea where they would go and on 23 March she stated that district commanders were currently doing an analysis on what Police's needs are? Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: There have not been any premature statements. The Police put together a case for more resource. The Government ultimately came forward with a proposal for 1100 new police staff. The member may not be aware but the Minister of Police does not allocate the staff. That is the statutory responsibility of the police commissioner. In fact the Minister is not allowed to direct the police commissioner around detailed matters of staffing allocation so the member may want to address his questions to the commissioner who seems to be working with the district commanders.Ron Mark: What confidence can the public have in her pledge to recruit and train 880 new officers when the Herald on Sunday confirmed that police due to budget constraints have cancelled 13 training courses and deferred another nine including Criminal Investigation Branch induction child protection specialist interview techniques and crime scene photography?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: It is the responsibility of the commissioner to ensure that he has a professional and well-trained police force. It is up to him and as I understand it it is not unusual for him to make decisions that might shift resources around. But he can be assured that the Government is funding and has committed to 1100 new staff including 880 new uniformed staff.Ron Mark: Why does he have confidence in her when 2 weeks ago she showed her ignorance of facts: when asked whether police staff were being made redundant she denied it only for the Police Association—Hon Paula Bennett: No I didn't. You said 200.Ron Mark: Settle Petal.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member's question is very long. The interjection then—which was in response to an interjection I accept—is not helpful. The member will start his question again and I do not want an interjection from my right hand side.Ron Mark: Thank you Mr Speaker. Why does he have confidence in her when 2 weeks ago she showed her ignorance of facts: when asked whether police staff were being made redundant she denied it only for the Police Association and the Road Transport Association to join New Zealand First in saying jobs were being axed and threatening the safety of trucks on our roads?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I think the member is probably wrong about what he said which would not be unusual. The police have done a very good job of changing the way they operate to improve the safety of our communities and our roads. I know that the member as has been his habit in the past likes to retail police-type gossip but they are doing a fine job and the member should stop trying to undermine their credibility.David Seymour: How does the Prime Minister think the Minister of Police feels being called a petal by a toadstool?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That will not help the order of the House Mr Seymour and the question is out of order.Stuart Nash: How can he have confidence in his Minister of Police when police are so under-resourced that on Sunday a liquor store manager was told that an officer could not be sent less than 100 metres over the road from the Newmarket Police Station to arrest a shopkeeper he had caught.Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I think the member is referring to arresting the shoplifter not the shopkeeper. Look I am advised the police receive 4600 111 calls not every month or every week but every day and we trust their professionalism to make the best decisions instantaneously on the spot without consulting the Opposition or the Minister of Police about where they can deploy police for the safety of our community. I can understand the shopkeeper's concern about it. The practicality is that someone on the end of the phone has to make a snap decision.Ron Mark: How can he or anyone have confidence in that Minister when this answer to a police Official Information Act (OIA) request received on 24 March 2017 shows that at 3.45 on the morning of 17 January there were only 238 officers on duty from Kaitāia to Bluff including just three officers for the whole of Northland?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: We have confidence in the Commissioner of Police who runs—Ron Mark: You're hanging him out to dry.Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: Well I know that if the member had the opportunity he would like to run the police rosters but actually in New Zealand that is unlawful. The police commissioner has to run the police rosters and I know that over time within the constraints of the complex industrial relations arrangements that the police have he has changed considerably the way it works to ensure that more police are on when more crime is likely to be committed.Ron Mark: I seek leave to table a revised police OIA received on 24 March 2017 that states that at 3.45 on 17 January—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! We do not need any more of the description because it was well and truly contained in the question. Leave is sought to table that particular OIA response dated 24 March 2017. Is there any objection? There is not.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.