Baldock Larry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Baldock Larry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:625;Page:20229] 
7.  
LARRY BALDOCK (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Does he stand by his reply to my supplementary question in the House on 26 March 2003 concerning the Prostitution Reform Bill when he said: “if it is passed the Government will make sure that the police are adequately resourced.”; if so why? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 Yes because the police have never been better resourced. 
Larry Baldock 
: How does he reconcile his answer with the finding of the Prostitution Law Review Committee report page 38 which states that in Auckland City alone there are 243 businesses of prostitution and 360 street workers 20 percent of whom are under age yet there is only one police officer with 45 percent of his time dedicated to prostitution? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The police actively police this. Of course one would have noted that yesterday a person was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for hiring an under-age person to work in a brothel. 
Larry Baldock 
: What specific police resources will he dedicate to stopping under-age prostitution in light of the statements made by Manurewa’s Maori wardens on TV3 on 11 April when they said that every time they are out on the streets doing night patrol they see under-age girls as young as 13 or 14 years some of whom are willing to sell their services for as little as 5 bucks and that there is no one out there to police it? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The resources that the police put in are over to the commissioner. However I would say that the Manukau City Council is drafting a local bill on this matter and I will be most happy to present it to the House. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: In light of the answer to the supplementary question with respect to the outcome of the court case in Christchurch yesterday where the judge said it was clear that while the law legalised prostitutes it landed heavily on those who broke the rules is the Minister satisfied that the resourcing of the police is actually leading to good results? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Yes the police are actively policing that matter. The result of the court case yesterday will send a very clear message to the community. 
Larry Baldock 
: Does the Minister acknowledge that given that the report identifies that 20 percent of the 637 street workers are under age one prosecution in 2 years is an absolute disgrace and a sham and that not enough will be done about under-age people soliciting on our streets unless the police are given more resourcing and special units to deal with these under-age people? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: There has always been prostitution. The new law toughens up in this area and protects young people. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister share our surprise on this side of the House that United Future now complains about the lack of police resources after docilely rolling over and committing to supply and confidence for 3 years regardless of anything or does the Minister regard United Future as a “Poodle Party”? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Police resources have never been better. I do not mind repeating that again. Of course there is always crime out there and the police are now better handling it. They are getting better results and that member must know they are better resourced than when his leader was Treasurer. 
Peter Brown 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker.  
Madam SPEAKER 
: The answer was not addressed in terms of the way the question was asked. The question commented on the coalition partner. I point out that there is no responsibility for the Minister to give an opinion on another party in this House. 
Larry Baldock 
: Has the Minister received an approach from the Mayor of Manukau City Sir Barry Curtis requesting him to introduce a local bill banning street soliciting because of the problems with under-age sex workers and the increase in soliciting in general in Manukau and has he seen the video surveillance footage of Hunter’s Corner showing girls as young as 12 and 14 selling themselves; if so will he do the whole country a favour and introduce legislation to ban street soliciting in the entire country and prosecute those who try to purchase sex from them? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I have had discussions with the Mayor of Manukau about this. The council is currently drafting a local bill that as I have already indicated to the House I will be pleased to introduce.