Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
[Volume:607;Page:4497] 
10.  
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Does he agree that there is a shortage of front-line police officers in New Zealand? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Police 
: It is important that we have an adequate level of police officers which is why the New Zealand Police is currently resourced at the highest levels ever. As at 28 February 2003 there were 7313 sworn staff and 2121 non-sworn staff in the New Zealand Police. That compares with 6939 sworn and 1734 non-sworn at the end of 1999. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I wonder whether you can advise the House how the answer given by the Minister to the question asked which was very specific—“Does he agree that there is a shortage of front-line police officers in New Zealand?”—addressed the question. He did not address the question at all. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Speaking to the point of order I specifically said that it is important we have an adequate level of front-line police officers. It was directly in response to the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is an answer to the question. The member may not be satisfied with it but it is in answer to the question. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: This may help the member who has just raised the point of order. If there is no shortage of police in New Zealand as the Minister appeared to imply why are we now recruiting police from the United Kingdom and dropping the recruitment age locally to 17? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Certainly there are issues that need to be addressed in Auckland. As the member pointed out recruitment campaigns are under way experienced police officers are coming from the UK there is a new trainee-based scheme out of south Auckland and more police are being sent to three Auckland districts. 
Taito Phillip Field 
: Has he received any reports on projections of future staffing levels in Auckland? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I have. I am advised that the current projections show that metropolitan Auckland districts are on target to be at full strength by the end of June 2003. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: If there is no shortage of police in Auckland and Auckland police are fully resourced why did the owner of an Auckland supermarket have to hire a private investigator to locate the thief who stole thousands of dollars from the supermarket when the local police said they did not have the resources to investigate that serious crime? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: As I have already said there are issues in Auckland which is why a series of programmes are under way. However it is important to point out to the member—and this is certainly good news—that by the end of June 2003 staff levels in the Auckland metropolitan area will be at their adequate level. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: If there is no shortage of police why are we reintroducing the old cadet scheme that was previously abandoned almost 20 years ago? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I think the member might be slightly confused. There are cadets recruits and now there are trainees. The trainee scheme that I think the member is referring to is a scheme that is being introduced and particularly targeted at Auckland. It is out of one of the Manukau polytechs and is aimed particularly at young people and giving them initial training before they go into the full cadet scheme. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: I ask the Minister again. If there is no shortage of police why are we now introducing schemes seemingly targeted at Auckland with categories such as trainees recruits and cadets—what on earth is going on here? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: A phenomenal amount is going on from this very good Government. We have recognised that there are issues there. We have a series of programmes under way but the good news is that by the end of the middle of the year staffing levels in Auckland should be about where they should be. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table a report that police failed to respond to at least three complaints of a robbery of a tavern in south Auckland after which the perpetrator then went on to commit three murders at the Returned Services Association headquarters at Mount Wellington. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.