Ardern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeArdern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 22 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7508. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]8.JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of Police: By what percentage has the crime resolution rate decreased overall since 2008?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development) on behalf of theMinister of Police: Between 2008 and 2014 resolution rates fell from 46.7 percent in 2008 to 41.5 percent in 2014. Earlier this year the police Minister expressed his concern about that drop in resolution rates to the Commissioner of Police and they are working to develop strategies to improve them. The way that resolution rates are recorded has changed in the last year. A range of measures are now included to give a more complete picture of crime resolution for different types of crime. I would also point out to the member that over the same period we have seen a 27 percent reduction in the crime rate which is a testament to the New Zealand Police’s Prevention First strategy and its focus on preventing crime before it occurs rather than reacting after a crime has been committed.Jacinda Ardern: Does he believe that police are adequately resourced when at least 90 percent of burglaries in Auckland went unresolved?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am sure that he believes that they are adequately resourced as they gained an extra $41.5 million in the last Budget. However the lowest resolution rate is in the category of unlawful entry with intent for burglary—to break and enter—and the 2014 resolution rate for that offence category was 12.1 percent down from 13.8 percent in the previous financial year.Jacinda Ardern: Can he confirm that according to the numbers provided to us by the New Zealand Police general duty constable numbers—that is those who are on the front line responding to call-outs and resolving crimes—have decreased by almost 18 percent since 2009; and has that contributed to the decreasing resolution rate?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I do not have those figures in front of me and I doubt that that is the case. However what I would say is I would repeat that we have seen a decrease in crime over the last few years and that certainly has been as a result of hard work by our front-line police.Jacinda Ardern: Does he believe that a decrease in resolution rates had anything to do with the fact that the Southern Police District has 75 fewer front-line police the Wellington Police District has 115 fewer the Waikato Police District has 58 fewer the Waitematā Police District has 68 fewer the Northland Police District has 27 fewer and Southland has 45 fewer—has that got anything to do—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been asked.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: We would have to identify whether those figures are accurate but in fact the police numbers have been maintained at 8907 right through the term of this National Government and in fact we have provided them with technology that we know has enabled more front-line hours to be spent. So it would have nothing to do with those resolution rates and I point out to the member that internationally resolution rates for those types of property crimes are at a very low rate simply because they are often—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Bring the answer to a conclusion.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: —presented later and the people have gone.Jacinda Ardern: I seek leave to table the Official Information Act response from the New Zealand Police confirming the figures I have used in this answer.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular information. Is there any objection? [Interruption] Order! I am putting the leave. There is no objection. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Jacinda Ardern: Does he agree with the Police Association president when he pointed to the decrease in front-line staff as one of the things that will inevitably lead to “service failures”?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am sure he does not agree given the 23 percent reduction in crime which is a huge testament to the work that the police have done. How could anyone agree with that statement from the Police Association president?