Wrongful Convictions
Ross Francis made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was refused by New Zealand Police.
From: Ross Francis
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am making the following request for research purposes.
On 20 July 2005, Sean Buckley – using his Police email account – emailed then-leader of the National Party Don Brash. Mr Buckley’s communication was in relation to Brash’s commitment, if elected, to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. “In my time in the Police”, Mr Buckley wrote, “I have arrested many people for offending of the nature of Mr Ellis and interestingly all stated that they were innocent as is usually the case with people who cannot face up to the horrific crimes they have committed.” He added that he hoped Brash had “perused the investigation file” and that “[i]t would be nice for someone in politics [to] finally stand up and put a stop to the Ellis case”.
To promote greater public participation in the decision-making process, please provide me with a copy Mr Buckley's email and a copy of the investigation file referred to above. What was Mr Buckley’s job title in July 2005? According to Police, what are the causes of wrongful convictions?
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
From: WRIGHT-MCCARTHY, Hannah
New Zealand Police
Dear Ross
I refer to your request of 23 June 2019 as below.
Your request is being actioned pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982.
Ngā mihi
Hannah Wright-McCarthy
Ministerial Services Advisor
Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: [FOI #10591 email] [mailto:[FOI #10591 email]]
Sent: Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:33 AM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Wrongful Convictions
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am making the following request for research purposes.
On 20 July 2005, Sean Buckley – using his Police email account – emailed then-leader of the National Party Don Brash. Mr Buckley’s communication was in relation to Brash’s commitment, if elected, to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. “In my time in the Police”, Mr Buckley wrote, “I have arrested many people for offending of the nature of Mr Ellis and interestingly all stated that they were innocent as is usually the case with people who cannot face up to the horrific crimes they have committed.” He added that he hoped Brash had “perused the investigation file” and that “[i]t would be nice for someone in politics [to] finally stand up and put a stop to the Ellis case”.
To promote greater public participation in the decision-making process, please provide me with a copy Mr Buckley's email and a copy of the investigation file referred to above. What was Mr Buckley’s job title in July 2005? According to Police, what are the causes of wrongful convictions?
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10591 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
hide quoted sections
New Zealand Police
Dear Mr Francis,
I acknowledge your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below. It
is being actioned pursuant to the OIA.
Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
-----Ross Francis <[FOI #10591 email]> wrote:
-----
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Police
<[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: Ross Francis <[FOI #10591 email]>
Date: 23/06/2019 11:33AM
Subject: Official Information request - Wrongful Convictions
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am making the following request for research purposes.
On 20 July 2005, Sean Buckley – using his Police email account – emailed
then-leader of the National Party Don Brash. Mr Buckley’s communication
was in relation to Brash’s commitment, if elected, to establish a
Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. “In my time in the
Police”, Mr Buckley wrote, “I have arrested many people for offending of
the nature of Mr Ellis and interestingly all stated that they were
innocent as is usually the case with people who cannot face up to the
horrific crimes they have committed.” He added that he hoped Brash had
“perused the investigation file” and that “[i]t would be nice for someone
in politics [to] finally stand up and put a stop to the Ellis case”.
To promote greater public participation in the decision-making process,
please provide me with a copy Mr Buckley's email and a copy of the
investigation file referred to above. What was Mr Buckley’s job title in
July 2005? According to Police, what are the causes of wrongful
convictions?
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10591 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[1]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
References
Visible links
1. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
2. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: Ross Francis
Dear Hannah,
My request of 23 June 2019 is long overdue.
Yours sincerely,
Ross Francis
From: ATKIN, Grant
New Zealand Police
Good morning Ross
On 23 June you made a request for pursuant to the Official Information
seeking a copy of a 2005 email sent by Detective Sean Buckley to the then
leader of the National Party, Don Brash. You also requested a copy of
the investigation file referred to in that email.
Our IT people have finally advised me that due to “technical difficulties”
it appears that the emails from 2005 are not available, and that they
have also been unable to locate a copy of email mailbox for Detective
Buckley. I am still waiting for a final resolution from them.
I was relying on the locating of the email to identify the specific
investigation file you are seeking. Are you able to provide more
information in respect of the investigation file so that I can the respond
formally to your request.
Please accept my apologies for the delay in the response.
Grant Atkin
Detective Sergeant
Investigations Support Officer
Sexual Violence and Child Protection
National Criminal Investigations Group
Police National HQ
P +64 4 212 3593
E [1][email address]
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: Ross Francis
Dear Grant,
Detective Buckley didn't refer to a specific investigation file. Do you hold more than one investigation file?
Please note that I also asked for Detective Buckley's job title, and the causes of wrongful convictions.
Yours sincerely,
Ross Francis
New Zealand Police
Morning Ross,
Please find a letter in relation to your request attached.
Kind regards,
Rachel
Canterbury OIA Team Leader | File Management Centre | Canterbury District
| New Zealand Police
Canterbury District Headquarters, 40 Lichfield Street, Christchurch
Central, DX WX 10057, Christchurch 8022
Safer Communities Together
-----Forwarded by Rachel MILNE/POLICE/NZ on 09/09/2019 11:36AM -----
-----Original Message-----
From: WRIGHT-MCCARTHY, Hannah
Sent: Monday, 1 July 2019 4:59 p.m.
To: '[FYI request #10591 email]'
<[FYI request #10591 email]>
Subject: Official Correspondence from NZ Police
Dear Ross
I refer to your request of 23 June 2019 as below.
Your request is being actioned pursuant to the Official Information Act
1982.
Ngā mihi
Hannah Wright-McCarthy
Ministerial Services Advisor
Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: [FYI request #10591 email] [
[1]mailto:[FYI request #10591 email]]
Sent: Sunday, 23 June 2019 11:33 AM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Wrongful Convictions
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am making the following request for research purposes.
On 20 July 2005, Sean Buckley – using his Police email account – emailed
then-leader of the National Party Don Brash. Mr Buckley’s communication
was in relation to Brash’s commitment, if elected, to establish a
Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case. “In my time in the
Police”, Mr Buckley wrote, “I have arrested many people for offending of
the nature of Mr Ellis and interestingly all stated that they were
innocent as is usually the case with people who cannot face up to the
horrific crimes they have committed.” He added that he hoped Brash had
“perused the investigation file” and that “[i]t would be nice for someone
in politics [to] finally stand up and put a stop to the Ellis case”.
To promote greater public participation in the decision-making process,
please provide me with a copy Mr Buckley's email and a copy of the
investigation file referred to above. What was Mr Buckley’s job title in
July 2005? According to Police, what are the causes of wrongful
convictions?
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #10591 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[2]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FYI request #10591 email]
2. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
3. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
Offensive? Unsuitable?
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not considered valid requests for Official Information (read more).
If you believe this request is not suitable, you can report it for attention by the site administrators
Report this request
Ross Francis left an annotation ()
This request is overdue.
Link to this