Dean Jacqui: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Dean Jacqui: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 13 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:7782. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: What announcements has the Government made on the availability of new technology for frontline Police to help them in their fight against crime? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Police) 
: 
 This morning the Prime Minister and I announced the introduction of 6500 smartphones for all front-line officers and 3900 tablets for selected staff across the country. This technology will enable police to access input and share important information immediately without having to travel back to their stations to access databases and write reports. This will allow police to focus more on preventing crime and less on paperwork. 
Jacqui Dean 
: How will the introduction of smartphones and tablets improve policing in New Zealand? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: The introduction of this technology will allow police to provide a better more efficient and more visible service for the public while keeping one step ahead of criminals. The new technology allows officers to quickly feed in and access information view offenders’ photographs and details and perform a wide range of tasks without needing to return to the station—a giant leap forward from the police radio. The initial 3-month roll-out to 6086 officers starting in April will deliver around 520000 additional front-line police hours every year and that is the equivalent of around 345 extra police focusing on crime prevention. 
Jacqui Dean 
: How will the new mobile technology help police achieve their target of reducing crime? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Investing in better mobile technology frees up officers’ time to focus on more effective policing by putting crime prevention and the needs of victims at the forefront of their duties. An 11-month trial of the technology undertaken by police showed that it allowed each officer to spend on average an extra 30 minutes per shift on the front line and these additional hours will be reinvested into preventive crime activities. Along with the 600 additional front-line officers delivered by this Government and a 70 percent increase in foot patrols it will mean more police are out on the streets for longer keeping our communities safe. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Kia ora tatou. What investment has the Government made to help front-line police respond appropriately to de-escalate a conflict and were such strategies applied in the case of the Howick party in which 15-year-old Ella Eketone alleges that she was assaulted by police losing two front teeth in the process? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: As Minister I am not prepared to comment on an individual case other than to say that an investigation is currently under way and the matter has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority. But police do receive training in de-escalating conflicts. This training includes managing large and out-of-control parties where a large number of drunk people start throwing bottles at the police.