POLICE NUMBERS

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:40): My question is for the Minister for Police. Can the minister confirm that the number of sworn police full-time equivalents at 30 June is estimated to be 39 fewer than 12 months ago, according to documents provided to the opposition under FOI?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:40): I can't confirm that figure, but I can confirm the fluidity in patterns with people going on long service leave and the like.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes; that is largely responsible for any discrepancy. The overall trend is upwards—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes, they are—

An honourable member: Eight hundred more than what is in the document.

Mr Pisoni: What is the difference then?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: That figure can be misleading, and I quizzed it myself. The explanation as I gave it is that people go on long service leave; they are still sworn officers, but it has an impact on the number of individuals who are in place to do the required job. The overall trend is upward and, if you look, say, six months later, you will find that there has been a reversal in that particular figure.