11. Question No. 11—PoliceHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—Police11. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his guarantee that there'll be no cuts or reprioritisations to the Police budget in order to deliver 500 extra police; if so what advice has he received if any on the impact the proposed 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent cut to the Police budget would have on public safety?Hon MARK MITCHELL (Minister of Police): Yes and none.Hon Ginny Andersen: Is it the Government's policy to deliver 500 extra police within two years as per the coalition agreement with New Zealand First?Hon MARK MITCHELL: The Government's policy is to deliver 500 additional police officers over the term of this Government which is three years and we've been very clear that we understand the challenges around that because as the incoming Government we discovered that it was difficult to fill existing recruit wings that the Australians are here recruiting our police officers and that we've got lots of senior police officers that are coming up to retirement.Hon Ginny Andersen: Can the Minister be clear that he is walking back on the coalition agreement that is undertaken to New Zealanders that he will deliver 500 additional police within two years?Hon MARK MITCHELL: No I'm saying that we have as the incoming Government committed to 500 additional police officers over the term of this Government which yes is three years and that—Hon Grant Robertson: No you haven't. Mark it's right here. Two years.Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well if the Minister had listened in the House last year you would have heard me talking to this issue. The fact is that as the incoming Government and with the advice that we got it became immediately apparent that there were big issues around recruiting. They can't fill current recruit wings the Australians are here recruiting our police officers and we've got senior police officers that are getting ready to retire.Hon Ginny Andersen: Is this yet another example of broken promises and will the 6.5 percent cut to the Police budget affect front-line services like it did last time National was in Government and see front-line officers pulled off the street to do non-sworn duties?Hon MARK MITCHELL: No I think that as the incoming Government again it became very apparent that the Police are under severe financial pressure because of the actions of the previous Government. We've been very clear that we're going to deliver world-class front-line services and the Police like every other agency is asked to look at their corporate services and their back-office services to see whether or not cuts can be achieved.Hon Ginny Andersen: Will he commit that any cost savings found in the Police budget will remain with Police as stated in National's Back Pocket Boost policy documents?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Well I can confirm for the member that we're going to make sure that the front line are resourced properly and are actually delivering the service that this country deserves. We've got a big job to do and the Police have got a big job to do in reducing what has been a massive increase in violent crime in this country over the last six years and we're committed to doing that.