Faafoi Kris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFaafoi Kris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 02 July 2013. Volume:691;Page:11729. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.KRIS FAAFOI (Labour—Mana)to theMinister of Police: Does she agree with the issues raised by the 2013 Police Association survey referred to in the July edition ofPolice News;if not why not?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Police):This was a survey of union members and I agree that unions will always say they need more resources. However I was very pleased to see that the survey showed that under the previous Labour Government police were more concerned about front-line resourcing. To aid the House I have provided the graph. In 2008 69 percent of those surveyed felt that additional resources were required—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister has been going for some time to the extent that she is now referring to a chart. The question talks about issues raised by the 2013 Police Association survey and she went straight back to 6 or 7 years ago and that cannot be relevant.Mr SPEAKER: No—[Interruption ] Order!Hon ANNE TOLLEY: If the member looked at the survey that the question is about it actually has the chart in there. I have just reproduced it for the House. Can I continue?Mr SPEAKER: Yes the Minister can continue with her answer using the chart if it is being used.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister might have difficulty grasping this but the question begins “Does she agree with the issues raised …”. The issues raised are the issues raised in the 2013 survey. They may well have a chart but she—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Minister is saying that this issue was raised within that survey. The Minister can continue her answer.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: If I can continue this chart shows that in 2008 69 percent of front-line police felt that additional resources were required. That has fallen under National to 61 percent. This Government—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is a sufficient answer from the Minister.Kris Faafoi: What will she do—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member can start the question again.Kris Faafoi: What will she do and what is her message to police and New Zealanders about the fact that 44 percent of the close to 4000 Police Association members who were surveyed say that restructuring within the police has lead to worse efficiency and effectiveness and has had a negative effect on the police’s ability to serve the public?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Actually what this survey says is that 60 percent of the union members say either that the 4 years of restructuring which has only just finishedbeing rolled out this month has created more efficiencies that it has remained the same or that it is too soon to tell—60 percent of them.Richard Prosser: How—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have called Mr Prosser for a supplementary question. [Interruption ] Order! I think that just goes to show the difficulties being created by the level of noise.Richard Prosser: How can rural New Zealanders have confidence that when they are in need the police will have enough staff to respond in a timely manner given the 2013 Police Association members’ survey has the drop in staffing as its No. 1 issue?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I say the police have been through 4 years of unprecedented change. Particularly in the last 12 months there have been backroom police jobs that through restructuring through HR and finance and case management have gone. I think it is perfectly explainable that people will be concerned about staff but the reality is that crime is at a 30-year low including in rural areas. My own area of Gisborne has seen an unprecedented drop in recorded crime of over 10 percent. Whatever is happening in the police is certainly working and New Zealanders are certainly feeling safer in their homes and out in their communities.Kris Faafoi: What will she do and what is her message to police staff and to New Zealanders given that 61 percent of the 4000 Police Association members surveyed believe that shortages of front-line staff and non-sworn support staff are “the areas of police being most at risk of service failure because of recent cuts and deficiencies”?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I refer the member back to the chart that I started with. The reality is that it may well be 61 percent now but under the Labour Government it was at 69 percent so actually they are much happier under a National-led Government.Richard Prosser: Does the Minister concede that the drop in staff numbers has put public safety in rural areas at risk and does she agree with one Police Association member who said that staffing numbers need to continue increasing especially in the smaller areas?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No I do not agree because front-line policing numbers have not dropped. In fact this Government has added an extra 600 front-line police. In addition to that there has been a 70 percent increase in foot patrols so our police are far more visible out in the communities. I think that under this Government we have seen crime at a 30-year low and that has made our communities much much safer.Kris Faafoi: Can the Minister assure the New Zealand public that their safety and the service that they receive will not suffer given that just 6 percent of Police Association members believe the restructuring has been effective while 62 percent believe that the restructuring has made things worse or made no improvement at all?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The figures that I think tell the real tale are in the independent survey of public satisfaction and confidence in our police—Kris Faafoi: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am asking the Minister specifically about this survey and she is bringing in another survey so—Mr SPEAKER: No if the member reflects on the question asked it was “Can the Minister assure the New Zealand public ...” and it then went on. The Minister is very adequately using another survey which reflects in her opinion public confidence in the police. So the Minister can certainly continue that answer.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Thank you for the question because public confidence and satisfaction is at an all-time high of 87 percent.Kris Faafoi: Does she take responsibility for these major concerns in this survey and in the police ranks given that the Minister has closed 15 police stations and cut the opening hours of a further 12 one station is no longer open to the public the policeTen One magazine shows monthly sworn resignations are skyrocketing there are 155 fewersworn police than at this time last year there are 191 fewer police support staff than at this time last year and her own estimates figures show a real cut in funding of $113 million over the next 4 years?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I really refute all of those assertions that that member has made. But I do not understand why Labour continues to run down our police. I can understand why police are much happier under a National-led Government when crime is at an all-time low than when they had a Labour Government and crime actually went up.Kris Faafoi: I seek leave to table a document obtained under the Official Information Act showing that 15 police station closures have happened since January 2009.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Kris Faafoi: I seek leave to table my graph—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! This is a point of order.Kris Faafoi: Can you see it all right? I seek leave to table this graph prepared by the Parliamentary Library showing the monthly average of police staff resignations since January 2009.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that graph.Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The explanation—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. Leave is sought to table it. I am asking whether the House wishes that document to be tabled. Is there any objection? There is objection.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I seek leave to table this graph from the Police Association showing that the police are happy.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that. Is there any objection? Yes there is.Kris Faafoi: Does she agree with theNew Zealand Herald editorial on Saturday 29 June which read “Mr Faafoi says claims that the police are more accessible than ever before seem a little far-fetched in communities that lose their stations.” and then went on to say “It is hard to disagree.”?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I do not agree with any of Kris Faafoi’s press releases. They are works of fiction.