Wilkinson Kate: Policing Bill — In Committee 
Wilkinson Kate: Policing Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:649;Page:17911] 
KATE WILKINSON (National) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to have a brief call in relation to Part 4 of the Policing Bill which as the Minister in charge of the bill Annette King quite rightly says reflects the realities of modern policing. I have to say there was not much contention within the Law and Order Committee in relation to Part 4. 
I would like to relate a story that really demonstrates modern policing in today’s world. The story occurred in Christchurch and I think it is delightful because it reflects the diversity and the dynamics of the police force today. It concerns a young girl who was a truant from school. Her mother had to get up every morning and leave for work at 6 a.m. The young girl therefore had to get to school all by herself but she did not do so. She did not have that discipline instilled in her as to the importance and benefits of going to school and getting an education. The mother was duly prosecuted for the truancy incidents. But following that because the mother just had to go to work at that time in the morning and was trying her best a young policeman in Christchurch took it upon himself to pick up the young truant in the mornings and take her to school. 
I think that that reflects a wonderful attitude on the part of that policeperson. In Christchurch we have what is called the “bouquets and brickbats for the week” on the radio and it was not a difficult decision to make to give a bouquet to the young policeman who had taken it upon himself to pick up the truant the young girl and take her to school. He would chat away to her on the way to school and she suddenly started to think that she actually liked school—that she liked school liked the discipline and liked learning. The policeman was not going to do that on every day of her schooling life but it was enough to break that pattern of behaviour and get her into the discipline of actually going to school. I think that is a wonderful tribute to the modern police force that we have. 
Part 4 relates to the employment of police employees and bearing in mind that the Police Act dates back to 1958 I think that the applicable employment legislation back in those days—and I stand to be corrected—was possibly the Industrial Relations Act which of course has been superseded a couple of times so that we now have the Employment Relations Act. So this legislation does bring the Policing Bill and its provisions in line with the Employment Relations Act 2000 which of course except as specifically excluded does apply in relation to the employment of police. One of the exclusions in relation to the police force is contained in clause 68 of the bill which make it unlawful for a constable to strike or be locked out and under subclause (2) “Where a strike occurs or is threatened the Commissioner may apply to the Employment Court for an injunction to prevent the strike or for an order for the resumption of full work.” Obviously one of the duties of the police concerns the security of New Zealand’s citizens so it is important to maintain that balance so that citizens are protected notwithstanding any potential employment dispute. 
There are also provisions for the suspension or removal of police employees with or without pay from their employment on the conditions contained in this part. Similarly under this bill it is up to the commissioner to prescribe certain health standards to form the basis if you like for police to leave the police force whether voluntarily or by compulsion due to incapacity. If a police employee or police constable is not fit to perform competently the duties or any other duties that may be reasonably required of him or her from time to time then that person can leave voluntarily or can compulsorily be made to leave the police force.