Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:621;Page:16526] 
12.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay Of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Will he stake his ministerial reputation on the accuracy of reported police statements that they handled the Bentley home invasion 111 call in “textbook” fashion and that “This is one of the times we should be patting ourselves on the back and saying well done”; if not does he consider the Prime Minister should keep him in office? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 No. As I told the House yesterday I take responsibility for policy issues and the Commissioner of Police has responsibility for operational issues. This case is one that will be looked at in the review of the communications centres. As a hard-working and conscientious Minister I expect to be in office for some time to come and I believe the party that Mr Ryall belongs to will be in Opposition for a long time. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The only point to this point of order is to put on record Mr Power’s comment that the Commissioner of Police should resign. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: What action if any will he take as Minister of Police in light of the so-called textbook procedure in the Bentley 111 home invasion when it is now reported that the emergency services were not advised that firearms were involved that a lone police officer from Rotorua apparently had to backtrack in order to arm himself as the incident was upgraded and that another police officer got lost; and in which textbook is that approach recommended? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I would tell the member that this is one of the cases that will be looked at in the review of the communications centres. I think that relying on newspaper reports is not always very good. I do not believe every newspaper reporter gets right all that he or she tells. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What effect has this Government’s policies had on police performance? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Under this Government the police are doing better than they ever have. The crime rate is at its lowest for decades crime resolution rates are at their highest road deaths for the last month are at the lowest level since records have been taken police budgets are at the highest level they have ever been at and police numbers have never been higher. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Is there any failure over which he thinks it would be appropriate to resign or does he think he should be the Minister no matter what? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I think that the police are doing a good job. As Minister I have nothing to say other than that they are doing very well and there is no need for me to consider any other action. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: If the inquiry into the police 111 system shows a need for increased staffing training or other resources will the Minister accept that he has failed in his basic responsibility as Minister which is to ensure the resources are provided for a safe 111 system in this country? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: First I must say the communications centre operation was brought in by the previous Government. We have continued to make improvements to it and we will continue to make improvements if the review states that that is necessary. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very clear question and it was not answered. Will the Minister accept responsibility and resign in the case of the 111 review requiring additional resources staffing or training? He did not answer the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There is one word that can answer that question. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: No.