Davis Kelvin: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDavis Kelvin: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 30 October 2014. Volume:701;Page:422. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.KELVIN DAVIS (Labour—Te Tai Tokerau)to the Minister of Police: Does he believe the Police decision not to prosecute the Roast Busters has resulted in justice for the girls involved?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Energy and Resources)on behalf of theMinister of Police: It is not for the Minister to comment on the outcome of Operation Clover as that is an operational matter for the police. However what I can say is that I have been assured by the commissioner that the police undertook a thorough and professional investigation into what has clearly been a challenging and complex case. I accept that the decision not to lay charges has prompted a wide range of reactions but I am assured that the victims have been the primary concern throughout the investigation and that this was a very carefully considered decision.Kelvin Davis: Given that the police believe something happened in eight incidents involving seven victims and five suspects but just did not think they could secure a conviction what is it that they believe did happen?Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Simon Bridges in as far as there is ministerial responsibility.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Clearly these are operational matters for the police. It would be inappropriate in fact for the Minister to involve himself in the detail of this series of prosecutions or potential prosecutions. I think what I can say is that the victims were the primary concern. It was a very well-resourced operation. I have been assured through the inquiries that have been made that it was a thorough and professional investigation.Kelvin Davis: Does the Minister of Police believe it is acceptable that the police cannot prosecute in this case?Mr SPEAKER: Again in as far as there is ministerial responsibility. I will leave it for the Minister to answer. It is a marginal call.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: It is very clear that all prosecutorial decisions come under the Solicitor-General’s guidelines for prosecutions. They have got two tests involved there and one is clearly whether there is a sufficient level of evidence. What has been clear here through the media and also what I am aware of is that it failed on that test.Kelvin Davis: What changes does the Minister of Police believe he needs to drive to give survivors of sexual violence confidence they will have a better than average chance to see justice?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Law reform in an area such as this criminal justice is for the Minister of Justice. I can certainly advise the House that there is a range of law reform matters going on not in relation to a specific case or cases but in relation to the general area of criminal justice and sexual violence. This includes following the Law Commission’s review of the Evidence Act in early 2013 a drafted Evidence Amendment Bill that will for example require the defence to give notice before trial that it intends to raise issues about a complainant’s previous sexual history and also making a number of changes in relation to child and youth witnesses that will we believe result in the right kinds of changes.