Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:659;Page:8291] 
7.  
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Is she satisfied that the police have sufficient plans in place to cope with the extra duties and stresses created in the run-up to Christmas? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 I have full confidence in the ability of the New Zealand Police to cope with the run-up to Christmas. I am surprised that by implication the member does not share my confidence in the New Zealand Police. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question was a perfectly straight question and did not deserve the last part to the answer. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Does she stand by her statement in the  
New Zealand Herald  
of 17 June 2009 that “there would be no drop in service delivery. There will be no issues regarding safety for the public or for the police.” in respect of the 10 percent reduction in the police vehicle fleet; and further when she stated: “you’re not talking about frontline cars you’re talking about vans and pool cars …”? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: I stand by comments that I have made that were based on assurances given to me by the Commissioner of Police. I agree with the Commissioner of Police. That member is always trying to make such a lot out of this issue yet the New Zealand Police now has an attrition rate of less than 2 percent—the lowest since World War II. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I am not the only one trying to make a meal out of this. How does she reconcile those comments with the statement from the President of the Police Association Greg O’Connor who also has a view on her conduct that on top of the extra duties and stresses created for the police in the run-up to Christmas the most pressing issue for the police in 2009 is “how the hell to transport more people around for these duties with 10 percent fewer vehicles at your disposal.”? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: I have not read that quote from Mr O’Connor. No doubt Mr O’Connor and I will discuss it at this evening’s Christmas party at the Police Association. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: While she is having drinks at the Christmas party tonight can she tell us how she reconciles the assurance she gave to the New Zealand public that no front-line police vehicles would be withdrawn with the fact that as an example a purpose-built specialist drug-dog vehicle has been withdrawn in Dunedin? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Actually we have new police cars going into operation right now but I know that the member will not admit it. He should just wait till later this week when he will see some new cars going in and some new vehicles that he is not aware of. I think they will be much more purpose-built for the police. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was about a specific example in Dunedin. It was responded to with a general statement—the Minister laughs prior to her drinks this evening—about police vehicle policy. The question was about a specific example in respect of Dunedin. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member if he recollects his question asked the Minister how she reconciled a couple of matters and the Minister reconciled them by pointing out that in fact new vehicles were being introduced this week. That seemed to be a perfectly fair answer to the question that the member asked.