10. Police Resourcing—Burglaries Numbers and Crime RateSTUART NASH (Labour—Napier) to the Minister of PolicePolice Resourcing—Burglaries Numbers and Crime Rate10. STUART NASH (Labour—Napier) to the Minister of Police: Does she agree with the front-line police officer who recently said regarding Police resources to attend every dwelling burglary we're only chasing our tails … The only solution is more staff. With successive frozen budgets we're at rock bottom"?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police): I certainly agree with the officer's views on the impact that burglary has on victims and for those reasons I support the Police's increased focus on burglary. I also agree that Police will need more resources going into the future. However the officer was incorrect to say that the Police budget has been frozen. Police has received considerable extra funding under this Government with an annual budget of $1.6 billion—up from $1.2 billion when National took office. This year's Budget further demonstrated the Government's commitment to preventing and reducing crime with Police receiving an extra $299.2 million—hardly a frozen budget.Stuart Nash: When she said in response to question No. 5 that if she had her way all of the police would be moved to her electorate is that because in her police district over the last 12 months crime increased by 7 percent or over 50 crimes per week?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well really I think that the member needs to listen a little bit more closely. I did however point out that there is a reason that a Minister does not get to decide where the police are all based because otherwise they might all be in that Minister's electorate and not in for instance that member's electorate.Hon Steven Joyce: Although if you came over to our side Stuart—Stuart Nash: Well I would make a better Minister of Police than she would. Anyway—[Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member was responding to an interjection. He will now proceed to the supplementary question.Stuart Nash: How does she explain to the people of New Zealand an increase of over 13000 crimes over the last 12 months—that is 250 extra crimes per week compared with the previous 12 months—and yet she has still done nothing to increase police numbers?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Of course if I wanted to explain those numbers—the 70 percent of them is an increase in burglaries and that is why police are focused on burglaries.Stuart Nash: In light of that has she received any reports of police from organised crime units being moved either temporarily or permanently to solve burglaries; if so what is the nature of these reports?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I understand that there is an anonymous letter to a trade union organisation paper saying that but I have not got any evidence of it other than that. Stuart Nash: Given that she said yesterday that "that member knows that the Prime Minister and I have made numerous statements to him and others around the resourcing of police" can she advise how many more unnecessary victimisations have to take place before the Minister finally stops talking and starts acting?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Leaving aside the very unfair nature of that question I can say that this Minister is acting all the time when it comes to numbers because we are working on this and have been for some time. If only he would do the groundwork like New Zealand First does and make the odd Official Information Act request he might find out."