Collins Judith: General Debate 
Collins Judith: General Debate 
[Volume:676;Page:21731] 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the contribution of my parliamentary colleague Allan Peachey who has today announced his retirement due to ill health. I am sure many of us will know that Allan has suffered from ill health for some time and I am sure we would all like to wish him well. 
Amongst all the stories this week there has been a fantastic story about the crime statistics in New Zealand. I would like to personally thank the New Zealand police and all the other contributors to bringing down crime in this country in the very tough economic times that the world has been going through. I congratulate the police in particular and certainly the Department of Corrections on their work in rehabilitation and all they have done to try to make New Zealand a safer place. Despite all the doomsayers they have succeeded. We announced the crime statistics on Monday: a 7 percent decrease around the country. Of course in some parts of the country that figure was substantially more and in some it was less. Actually every police district of the country recorded a drop in recorded crime per head of population. I think that is a fantastic result. That is of course on the back of the fact that we had a drop in recorded crime for the calendar year to the end of December last year as well. That was about 6.8 percent. So we have had two drops in a row which is a fantastic effort. 
What response came from the Labour Opposition? Well there were two responses if members would like to know. I am sure members here would like to know. The first response was from the Hon Phil Goff and that was that it was all his work that he did it. Three years after Labour got thrown out of office it was all Labour’s work. Now that is despite the fact that Clayton Cosgrove—who used to be the Labour Party spokesperson on law and order before he went quiet a year ago—said when statistics came out in 2008-09 and crime had gone up about 3 percent that that was all National’s fault because we were the Government. Suddenly 3 years later it is all Labour’s work. Well it is not; it is the work of the police the Department of Corrections all of the other agencies involved in this and actually it is also the work of this Parliament because we have given the police the backing and the tools and we have said to them that they should get out there and do what they think is best. 
Part of that is Policing Excellence which is a fantastic programme. In fact a comment was made today by Labour that members may not yet be aware of. It came from the de facto spokesperson on law and order Mr Michael Bott who apparently is standing against my good colleague and friend John Hayes in the Wairarapa. It is good to know that Labour now has a spokesperson on law and order. Mr Bott’s answer to the crime statistics coming down was this: “Reported crime is down because fewer people are being charged …” and that is apparently all because alternative resolution is part of policing. In other words it is smart policing work. Of course Mr Bott is wrong. There is a huge difference. Mr Bott is supposed to be a lawyer. He says that reported crime and people being charged is the same thing. No there is a huge difference. I say to members of the House and to those two people who will have read Mr Bott’s press release including myself that in respect of alternative resolution when police use their common sense and discretion to deal with an issue straight away rather than clogging up the court system for a very minor matter and a slap over the wrist that is all recorded as a crime too. It is an offence and therefore it is counted and Mr Bott is wrong. But no he launched into a personal attack on my good self using the nickname that Labour gave me—oh what a shame—and then he went on to get it all wrong. 
There has been a third response made all through this year by Labour from the Hon Pete Hodgson. Week in week out I have had written questions about the Diplomatic Protection Squad and the costs of keeping the Prime Minister the Governor-General and dignitaries coming to New Zealand safe. We have seen in the House this afternoon an example of why we need to have those people here available to assist the Prime Minister. We have seen a Diplomatic Protection Squad member of the New Zealand Police today assisting in a very difficult situation. Frankly nobody should resent the Diplomatic Protection Squad doing its job. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Can I just remind the member that there should be no comment on matters that happened in the gallery according to Speaker’s ruling 8/4. 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I think the Diplomatic Protection Squad does a fantastic job. I do not resent for one moment the fact that it needs to do its job helping to keep visiting VIPs the Governor-General the Prime Minister and anyone else safe. I offer my congratulations to the Diplomatic Protection Squad. I must say that I get the most fantastic responses from visiting VIPs about the work of the New Zealand police. I am very proud to be their Minister. Well done to them.