Cosgrove Clayton: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Cosgrove Clayton: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7506] 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
: 
 As we have said throughout the previous stages of the Gangs and Organised Crime Bill Labour will be supporting this legislation. It builds on a large amount of work that Labour did when in Government. In supporting Part 1 I will raise a couple of issues with the Minister in the chair the Hon Nathan Guy. I agree with the powers being given to the police in respect of attempts to disrupt crime and to disrupt those who participate in organised criminal groups especially gangs. 
The issue I raise which I have raised in respect of a number of other law enforcement bills that this Government has put up concerns resources for enforcement. I think the powers that are put forward here in terms of interception are appropriate. I think the recommendations that the select committee made in respect of reasonableness are appropriate as are the amendments to the definitions in section 98A of the Crimes Act on offences that are committed by participating in an organised criminal group. But I raise the following point with the Minister. Again as with other legislation the Government has proposed in order to empower police the measures are only as good as the resources that are provided to police to implement that legislation. 
Today we saw an interesting announcement by the New Zealand Police in my home town of Christchurch. Following the loss as the district commander himself has advised me of 32 police vehicles—and a number of those vehicles were from the front line when we were told they would not be—today there was an announcement which I have some support for that the police had gained four bicycles. So there was an announcement today that we will have police on four bicycles running around the four avenues in Christchurch. I have to say in all seriousness that in itself that is not a bad thing. A police press statement which rattled off the objective of this measure noted that the police laughed heartily at some particular issue. It was an interesting press release. 
We want police in our communities we want police within our suburbs and we want them visible. That is all true. But I just wonder whether it is a net gain for Cantabrians when they have lost 32 police vehicles— 
Paul Quinn 
: And the Ranfurly Shield! 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE 
: —and they have gained four bikes. Mr Quinn makes another so-called useful contribution. 
The point I make to the Minister is that criminals as we know do not adhere to the ethical rules of law enforcement. For instance criminals will not say that because the cops are on bicycles they will not use cars but bikes. What is next? Horses? Donkeys possibly—and there are one or two donkeys opposite. Criminals do not adhere to the ethical rules of cricket. Just because the law enforcement men and women in blue are on a bicycle criminals will not decide to rob the bank or department store or shoplift or carry out an assault and then get away on a bike. They tend to use whatever means they can to circumvent the law and the law enforcement agencies. 
I say to the Minister that we are supportive of this bill. But again it comes down to the credibility of the resource packages through the Budget that are put up to implement these measures. We know for instance that 340 police vehicles have been taken from the police fleet. We know because the Minister Judith Collins is fond of telling us that she gave Counties-Manukau 43 new vehicles in the Budget. Yet as we look at Part 1 and the resourcing issues around it we see that we have to ask why the Minister of Police took 340 vehicles away from the police fleet. We know that $21 million has been required to be taken out of the police budget. Part of that budget related to dealing with organised crime and part of it was to deal with implementing this legislation. 
In all seriousness I make the point as I think I did with the Minister’s colleague that we are supportive of this legislation because gang and organised crime activity is insidious—and it is tragic. Some very interesting but tragic points were made on a show that I could watch when it aired last night on TV about the spouses of those in prison and about gangs and organised crime and their impact on families in our community. But this piece of paper is only as good as the resources that are given to the men and women in the blue and black uniforms to actually make it work. So I simply ask the Minister in the chair the Hon Nathan Guy whether he will consider giving us some reassurances around the resource implications of the bill.