Parliament looks to expand own security force

The Parliamentary Service is working to beef up its security force and has plans to send teams into the field with MPs if they’re facing threats.

Politicians and others at Parliament have become increasingly concerned about safety since the 2022 riot. In the year since, a new stab-proof vest has been rolled out for security guards and there have been discussions about whether they need special powers to end future occupations.

In Budget 2023, the Government allocated $14 million over the next four years to improve security.

Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael GonzalezMontero said this funding would be used to deploy security to electorate offices when needed, and to respond to an increased demand from MPs to have their homes checked and fitted out with security equipment.

Until recently, Parliament’s security staff have been focused mostly on the precinct. The security team also communicates with the electorate and community offices which house MPs and staff across the country, but security at these sites had not been a major issue.

Gonzalez-Montero told a select committee there had been a steady increase in attacks on these community offices, and also on MPs and staff when they were outside of Parliament.

In October, a man attacked Jacinda Ardern’s Mt Albert office with a samurai sword. In 2019,

Green co-leader James Shaw was assaulted on his way to work. Many MPs have reported death threats.

Gonzalez-Montero said the increase in threats, attacks and vandalism meant the Parliamentary Service needed to bolster its security operation and would soon start organising security for some MPs while they were in their offices, or out in the community.

‘‘We’ve had reports of members that have been attacked, so we will establish a team that will work with the members and the police, if they’re going to a rally or an event in the community,’’ he said.

Generally, a police unit called the Diplomatic Protection Service (DPS) is responsible for providing protection to the prime minister and other MPs when it’s required.

The Parliamentary Service hires security guards and maintains security systems at Parliament and its offices.

Gonzalez-Montero said he hoped the new security team could also gather intelligence on risks to Members of Parliament, and respond across the country.

‘‘It will gather more intelligence, see how safe it is and if necessary provide protection to members as they go into the community,’’ he said.

Both the Parliamentary Service and the Clerk of the House, David Wilson, told the governance and administration committee that their offices were struggling to maintain current operations given funding constraints.

Gonzalez-Montero said there may need to be cuts across other areas of Parliament, in order to fund security.

Parliament’s Speaker, Adrian Rurawhe, said the occupation of 2022 marked an acute change for every politician.

‘‘It’s really clear that a number of MPs are feeling a lot less safe than they previously did,’’ he said.