10. Question No. 10—PoliceCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 10—Police10. CHRIS BAILLIE (ACT) to the Minister of Police: What did he mean when he said yesterday I think the work she was doing around culture change in the police was very important and I hope that we'll be able to continue that" and does he believe that the current culture of police is completely focused on catching criminals?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Police): I meant what I said. Throughout the country over the last 14 years that I've been a member of Parliament I've met members of the Police Force who are committed to continual improvement and I absolutely back the work that the current Police leadership are doing in ensuring that Police have an internal culture that is supporting the Police to constantly strive to do better and to constantly strive to serve our communities better. I believe that that involves focusing on cracking down on criminal offending but it also focuses on cracking down on some of the causes of that offending before it happens.Chris Baillie: Does he believe there is systemic racism within the New Zealand Police and how does focusing on this kind of identity politics help catch criminals?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Within any organisation the size of the New Zealand Police there are going to be people with a wide variety of different views. I think that it's important that everybody when it comes to issues around race has the opportunity to reflect on their views their own feelings their own thoughts and have the opportunity to consider how they might do things differently and how they might incorporate that into their practice. I think every organisation in the country is grappling with this and I think that that's a positive thing whether it be our school system whether it be our police whether it be our health system or whether it be large corporations who are also grappling with it. I think that those conversations can be incredibly positive.Chris Baillie: Does he stand by a police report that says "Imperialism has instilled a legacy of eurocentrism neo-liberalism and white supremacy" and that "that had become a core component of policing delivery in the criminal justice system" and if so how will that research help catch criminals?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Without having seen the report I don't think it would be fair to comment on it.Chris Baillie: Does he stand by his statement "My first job as Minister of Police will be making sure that police have everything they need in order to do their job effectively." and what additional tools do Police need to catch criminals that they don't currently have?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes I absolutely do. It's one of the reasons why this Government as I've indicated before has increased the Police budget every year that we have been in Government. Of course the criminals don't just continue to repeat the same patterns of offending year after year; they evolve and adapt their criminal offending patterns and we need to continue to evolve and adapt the Police's response as well. I'll be in touch with Police regularly talking to them about what new tools they might need and we will respond accordingly.Chris Baillie: What does he say to Police officers who tell me that they can't get on with their job of catching criminals because they're not supported by the Government to use the tools they currently already have at their disposal?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I don't agree with the member's statement. This Government has given the Police more tools and more resources than they have ever had before. SPEAKER: Now that looks like Julie Anne Genter who's clearly not participating remotely as my notes say.Hon Julie Anne Genter: SorrySPEAKER: The Hon Julie Anne Genter—question No. 11."