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Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Mike Bush that all frontline first response staff will soon routinely carry Tasers.

“The Taser rollout is an important step to help ensure the safety of both the community and our frontline officers and I fully support the decision,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“We know frontline officers often find themselves in rapidly changing situations and it is not always practical to return to their vehicle to retrieve a Taser.

Budget 2015 will provide an extra $8.1 million of operating funding over the next four years for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), demonstrating the Government’s commitment to tackling serious fraud, SFO Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

“The work of the SFO is important to New Zealand’s economy because it protects New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business, which in turn contributes to growth in our economy,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Budget 2015 builds on the Government’s success in reducing crime and ensures New Zealand Police is fit for the future with new operating funding of $164 million over the next four years, Police Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to maintaining visible, active and hard-working Police that deliver more effective frontline policing and crime prevention to keep our communities safe.  

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated agencies for the latest successful drug-related operation targeting the production and supply of methamphetamine in Auckland.

Operation Wand and Operation Sorrento recovered 123 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of over $120 million in the Auckland region in late March. Nine individuals have been arrested and charged.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcomes crime data released today showing recorded crime has dropped by more than 100,000 offences over the last five years.

The 2014 recorded crime rate dropped by 4.2 per cent per head of population, with 10,022 fewer recorded crimes compared to the year before, and 101,016 fewer offences in 2014 compared to 2009.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse has asked New Zealand Police to undertake a review of the public messages that underpinned the 2014/15 Summer Road Safety campaign.

"While I firmly support Police's zero tolerance for poor driving behaviour that can lead to death and injury on our roads, I also support the application of discretion as articulated in the 4kph summer tolerance used in fixed speed cameras and the vast majority of mobile devices," Mr Woodhouse says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today congratulated Police for the latest successful drug-related operation targeting gang members in the Upper North Island.

Operation Jakarta was the fourth in a series, resulting in charges being laid against 38 Headhunter members and associates, as well as the seizure of over $4 million in cash, $4 million-worth of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, and a substantial number of firearms.

More than $9 million worth of assets were also frozen under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today opened the Mobility Innovation Lab and Experience Centre which will help Police, government and business develop mobile tools and technology that benefit New Zealand.
 
“This Mobility Innovation Lab and Experience Centre will bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to focus on ideas that will make a difference to all New Zealanders,” Mr Woodhouse says.
 
“It will help foster innovation and encourage rapid deployment of ideas and tools.
 

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today launched the ‘Reach the beach safely this summer’ campaign, an initiative led by New Zealand Police.

Last year’s Safer Summer campaign had a great impact with a significant decline in the proportion of people speeding on our roads and a reduction in deaths and serious injuries.

“Summer is a busy time on the road and we want to build on last year’s efforts by again enforcing speed limits and lower alcohol limits,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today acknowledged the combined efforts of New Zealand and international Police to find and capture absconded prisoner Phillip John Smith (Traynor) overnight.

“I commend the work of New Zealand and Brazilian police officers, and Interpol, to trace and re-capture the prisoner,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“This has been a distressing week for the victims of the prisoner, and I hope today’s news goes some way to restoring their sense of safety and security.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to join you this morning for the opening of what is the most significant drug driving event to be held in New Zealand.

This is a problem that the Government takes very seriously, so it's great to see such a wide range of experts from around the world gathering to share ideas about how we can reduce the risk to public safety.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga say agencies are working together to urgently review how a prisoner on temporary release was able to leave the country. 

“The circumstances leading to Phillip John Smith (Traynor) obtaining a passport and later absconding are the subject of multiple investigations involving Police, Corrections and the Department of Internal Affairs,” says Police Minister Michael Woodhouse.

Good afternoon Ministers,

It's a great pleasure to be here today as we celebrate 100 years of nations working together to combat crime.

Just as it is important for countries to cooperate across borders to detect and prevent crime, so too is it necessary for Police services worldwide to build partnerships across different sectors within their own countries.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse will travel to Monaco tomorrow to represent the New Zealand Government at the INTERPOL Ministerial Meeting on 3 – 4 November.

The INTERPOL Ministerial meeting will be held concurrently with the INTERPOL 83rd General Assembly which marks a century since the concept was proposed at the first International Police Congress held in Monaco in 1914. The 83rd General Assembly is themed ‘Turn Back Crime: 100 years of International police cooperation.’

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse today officially launched the national roll-out of the Booze Bus Biometrics (BBB) system.

The BBB system will enable Police to confirm within minutes, the identities of people in the system that they intend to charge with drink-driving offences, by electronically scanning fingerprints, taking digital photographs and comparing the data to existing Police records.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā. 

Ka nui te hari ahau kua tae mai nei, I waenganui a koutou me tēnei hui. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Good morning everyone and thank you for the invitation to open your annual conference, my first as Minister of Police.

I am looking forward to the challenges that come with this exciting portfolio and to understanding the business of policing.

I am also looking forward to getting out and visiting as many stations and meeting as many staff as I can.