5. Police Resourcing—Burglaries and WorkloadRON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of PolicePolice Resourcing—Burglaries and Workload5. RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Police: Given reports that on 9 August she admitted that there are not enough Police and that she was in talks with the Prime Minister over the matter can she advise whether the talks have ended or are still ongoing?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police): Actually what I said and I have said quite consistently is that police will need more resources going into the future. This is absolutely the case and as I have also said I have been working on this for quite some time now. This is not back-of-the-envelope numbers-plucked-out-of-thin-air stuff. Our police actually deserve proper consideration and discussion and that is exactly what I am doing. Ron Mark: Can she explain how our under-staffed police force will be expected to attend every burglary while trying at the same time to combat organised crime or does her Government consider combatting organised crime to be a low priority now?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I have full confidence in the Commissioner of Police when he advised me that police can in fact attend every burglary whether it is a police officer whether it is an authorised officer or whether it is a forensic services person. I have full confidence in police when they say that they do have those resources at the moment but they accept as well that they are going to need more resources into the future. Ron Mark: What good news does she have for the communities of Palmerston North Christchurch Northland and many other towns and regions across the country that are reporting increased levels of crime and a reduction in police officers and resources and for those police officers who will be on duty over the Christmas and New Year period?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Just dealing first with Northland because that is one of the I think four questions there. Let us have a look at Northland. Well I have been advised that in August 12 Criminal Investigation Branch investigators from Auckland were sent to assist Northland district for 3 weeks with six going to Kaitāia and the other half to Kaikohe. Additionally six extra investigators are being allocated to the district for the next 12 months which that member I hope will appreciate. Four of these began work on 10 October; two positions are still to be filled. They will be based in Kaikohe but will move around the district as needed. The team sent in August has helped to clear a backlog of serious crime files and provide support to local staff as has happened with regard to Northland at different times and periods over the last 10 months. In addition six public safety team officers from across Auckland were also sent to assist front-line staff in Kaitāia and Kaikohe.Ron Mark: Can the Minister give the House an absolute assurance that there will not be any announcements from police commanders in the regions specifically the Manawatū Horowhenua Wairarapa that there are going to be police cuts and the removal of officers who are sole officers in the district they are currently in—an absolute categorical assurance?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Quite clearly as a Minister it is not my prerogative to advise where police should be placed because if I were to they would all be in my electorate obviously.Stuart Nash: Because they're needed.Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Oh yes that is right! And it is very important though to allow the police to undertake the allocation of the resources that they have. But I would say to that member that thankfully there are 600 more police now than there ever were under a previous Government.