Young Jonathan: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Young Jonathan: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:665;Page:12733] 
JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) 
: 
 I am very pleased to stand and speak regarding police. Our excellent Minister of Police the Hon Judith Collins has said: “The purpose of police is to uphold the law fairly and firmly to prevent crime to pursue and bring to justice those who break the law to protect the community and to do so with integrity fairness and common sense.” I believe that the people of New Zealand see that happening with this Government. We understand that crime is not just a consequence but also a choice. I believe that although it is a consequence for many people to bring about the understanding that people can choose to live in different ways is very very important. 
Over the last 18 months the Government has given police additional resources tools and legislative authority to tackle crime. We are seeing tremendous support in our communities for those measures. The Government’s priorities for the 2010-11 year reflect its commitment to reinforce the police’s visibility accessibility and responsiveness to the needs of the community. 
We cannot afford to let up in our determination to win the battle against organised crime and everybody in this Committee I am sure would agree with that. Organised crime continues to exert its destructive influence in our communities through the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine extortion money-laundering and violence. We will continue to focus on deterring participation in criminal gangs following the money trails of organised crime and seizing the proceeds of criminal activities. 
Earlier this year it was reported that $7.4 million worth of proceeds from criminal activities was seized taking away motivation and an incentive for those criminals. The appropriation sought for Vote Police for 2010-11 totals $1.58 billion which is an increase of just over 4 percent. Most of this increase goes primarily to the extension of the numbers of our police force in New Zealand. The target is to grow police numbers in Counties-Manukau by 300 between November 2008 and December 2010. Police have estimated that there will be approximately 220 additional police by the end of the 2009-10 year leaving a balance of approximately 80 for the first 6 months of 2010-11. Alongside this increase we target an increase of 600 police nationally between 2008 and December 2011 inclusive of the 300 in Counties-Manukau. 
We also look to increase expenditure touching the investigations and police primary response management appropriations relating to anti - money-laundering and countering financing of terrorism the enactment of the Criminal Investigations Amendment Bill 2009 and domestic violence and enhancing safety in the home. 
We aim to update the police land mobile radio network from analog to digital. The digital network has already been implemented in Wellington and Auckland and is due to be rolled out in Christchurch by December 2010. We look forward to the full implementation of a secure encrypted digital radio network. 
We are pleased to know that the attrition rate of police continues to be low. The Commissioner of Police Howard Broad reported to the Law and Order Committee that recruits continue to be of extremely high calibre. New Zealanders can be confident that we have a high-quality police force. Indeed in the strategic plan 2010 the commissioner said: “We aim to be a world class Police service. We will accomplish this by developing our people to be leaders in all that we do. The distinctive reality of Police is that when things go wrong in our society we must be there. We must sound the call for action inspire others to join the effort required to bring order to disorder and safety from danger and we must set an example of professionalism and integrity. We must be respectful of our public and ourselves. We must be exemplary ‘guardians of the people’”.