Undercover
James Scott made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was refused by New Zealand Police.
From: James Scott
Dear New Zealand Police,
Can I please have a list of the registration plates of all "undercover" (unmarked) police vehicles that are based at Palmerston North Police Station?
If this is not specifically available please use your best judgement to provide the requested information in it's best available form (eg. By listing the licence plates of these vehicles in the district).
Yours faithfully,
James
New Zealand Police
Dear Mr Scott
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act (OIA) request
below. Your request is being actioned pursuant to the Act.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
PNHQ
-----James Scott <[FOI #11685 email]> wrote:
-----
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Police
<[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: James Scott <[FOI #11685 email]>
Date: 19/11/2019 03:39PM
Subject: Official Information request - Undercover
Dear New Zealand Police,
Can I please have a list of the registration plates of all "undercover"
(unmarked) police vehicles that are based at Palmerston North Police
Station?
If this is not specifically available please use your best judgement to
provide the requested information in it's best available form (eg. By
listing the licence plates of these vehicles in the district).
Yours faithfully,
James
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11685 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.
show quoted sections
New Zealand Police
Dear Mr Scott
Please find attached our response to your OIA request.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
===============================================================
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
From: James Scott
Dear New Zealand Police,
Thank you for your response.
However, I do not accept your assertion that the release of the information I have requested would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences and the right to a fair trial.
Under Section 19 (a) (ii) could you please explain how a list of number plates that relate to a presumably large fleet of unmarked police vehicles, can realistically have any such prejudicial effect on the maintenance of law. Bear in mind that a considerable amount of crime is detected by marked police vehicles and the release of this information is more likely to have an increased (if any) rather than decreased effect on crime prevention. I don't believe it has any impact on the investigation of crime or right to a fair trial.
Please also explain how the explanation you provide will be "likely" (ie. More likely than not) to occur if you released the requested information.
Yours faithfully,
James Scott
New Zealand Police
Good afternoon
I have spoken with the team who prepared the response and am advised that
they stand by their assessment that releasing the information you asked
for would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law.
If you are unhappy with the response you received, you have the right to
seek a review of the decision to withhold the information by the Office of
the Ombudsman. You can find information aobut how to do so at:
[1]https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Ngā mihi
Ministerial Services
-----"James Scott" <[FOI #11685 email]> wrote:
-----
To: "OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Police"
<[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: "James Scott" <[FOI #11685 email]>
Date: 04/12/2019 04:26PM
Subject: Re: OIA Response IR-01-19-31580
Dear New Zealand Police,
Thank you for your response.
However, I do not accept your assertion that the release of the
information I have requested would be likely to prejudice the maintenance
of the law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of
offences and the right to a fair trial.
Under Section 19 (a) (ii) could you please explain how a list of number
plates that relate to a presumably large fleet of unmarked police
vehicles, can realistically have any such prejudicial effect on the
maintenance of law. Bear in mind that a considerable amount of crime is
detected by marked police vehicles and the release of this information is
more likely to have an increased (if any) rather than decreased effect on
crime prevention. I don't believe it has any impact on the investigation
of crime or right to a fair trial.
Please also explain how the explanation you provide will be "likely" (ie.
More likely than not) to occur if you released the requested information.
Yours faithfully,
James Scott
show quoted sections
From: James Scott
Dear New Zealand Police,
Still not good enough.
I've asked for the grounds in support of the refusal, which should be considered in accordance with section 19(a)(ii). Simply asserting the fact that your team stand by their decision won't do.
Yours faithfully,
James Scott
Joshua Rogers left an annotation ()
This is interesting, exactly what prejudicial effect would this have on the maintenance of law. Undercover police cars in New Zealand aren't exactly the most discreet vehicles on the road, you'd notice the massive aerial on the top before being able to read and cross check the registration with a list of registration numbers.
I'd recommend complaining to the Ombudsman.
Connor Johnson left an annotation ()
This is why I have a personal database of every unmarked police car at palmerston north for myselff. if the police wont give it to you gotta make your own.
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
Mr Rodgers left an annotation ()
Perhaps I'm missing something but I would have thought if every gang member and villain in the country had a list of the rego numbers of unmarked Police vehicles in their back pockets it clearly is going to prejudge the "prevention, investigation, and detection of offences".
It would be a bit like them having a photo-book showing the faces of all Police undercover officers.
I suspect your section 19 request will be refused on the same grounds as your first request.
Link to this