Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6201] 
3.  
RON MARK (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Is he confident that police numbers at present are sufficient to ensure police are fully aware of street activity in their areas? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Police 
: Yes; however the police also rely on the community to report any suspicious or unlawful behaviour. 
Ron Mark 
: If that is the case and the Minister is confident he has control over the situation why were police able to locate some 2000 under-17-year-olds over just 4 nights last week in a special operation which resulted in some 300 youths being identified as “at risk” requiring the police to return them to their homes? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: It shows that the police are doing a thoroughly good job. 
Martin Gallagher 
: Can the Minister outline the current staff resources in the New Zealand Police? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Police numbers have risen steadily during the term of the Labour-led Government to around 9559 personnel including 7400 sworn and 2159 non-sworn staff—the highest numbers ever. That contrasts with the National Party’s Martin report which was going to cut staff by 540. 
Richard Worth 
: Does the Minister stand by his reported comments in the  
Dominion Post  
that police are not understaffed and that they have been given all the resources they asked for; if so is he trying to tell the House that the police did not actually ask for 169 police officers in Auckland over a 3-year period? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: No I can confirm that the commissioner asked for that but that is what commissioners must do and that is what all chief executives do. The important point is that police numbers are the highest ever and the police budget is the largest it has ever been. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Is it correct that in Opposition the Minister was a lion roaring for more police funding but is now a Cabinet lamb and has seen his share of total Government spending on police fall every single year he has been Minister? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: No. 
Ron Mark 
: Does the Minister not understand that having police out walking the streets in our communities 24 hours a day 7 days a week dealing with young people in the streets and truants is bread-and-butter policing which reduces entry-level crime and that that can never be substituted for by special operations that come along once in a blue moon only when the situation has got totally out of hand? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I do understand that and that is why we increased police numbers. 
Ron Mark 
: How can community policing ever be catered for when we have these headlines: “Truancy swoops catch 900 in a week”; “Tax alcohol fails to hit streetwise kids”; “1753 youths picked up in second phase of special operation”; “2000 children— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Come to the point please. 
Ron Mark 
: —and how can those police numbers ever cope with that sort of lawlessness on the streets; and does the Minister seriously believe that the country is going to pick up the tab by sitting out there itself policing the streets in the manner that he suggested in his first answer? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question was too long. The Minister may comment on two of the questions. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Every question that that member asked demonstrates what a fabulous job the New Zealand Police are doing.