Policy around asking for ID for OIA requests
Andrew Crow made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was successful.
From: Andrew Crow
Dear New Zealand Police,
Once again I see an FYI.org.nz post in which a police staff member has asked for photo ID of the requester.
Under OIA I am asking for:
1. Any internal policy or process documents that say photo ID can or can’t be asked for.
2. Information about what that photo ID is needed for, I.E under privacy policy, why are you collecting the information.
3. Number of times the ombudsman has told you not to ask for photo ID.
4. Number of times public have complained about your policy of asking for photo ID.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Crow
Grant Carroll left an annotation ()
Hi James,
I think one of the requests Andrew is referring to is one of mine. This was a request for organisational information under the OIA and not a request for personal information under the Privacy Act. I am not aware of any requirement to provide two forms of photo ID when requesting organisational information under the OIA.
[User 7569 name removed] (Account suspended) left an annotation ()
You're right, it's odd for them to even ask for it under the Privacy Act to be honest. If you take your request in to the station they only want one.
From: Andrew Crow
Dear New Zealand Police,
It is normal to get a acknowledgement of a request.
Can you please acknowledge that you got this request.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Crow
New Zealand Police
Good afternoon
Your request has been received and is underway.
Nga mihi
Ministerial Services.
-----"Andrew Crow" <[FOI #11718 email]> wrote:
-----
To: "OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Police"
<[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: "Andrew Crow" <[FOI #11718 email]>
Date: 02/12/2019 08:03PM
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Policy around asking for ID
for OIA requests
Dear New Zealand Police,
It is normal to get a acknowledgement of a request.
Can you please acknowledge that you got this request.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Crow
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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[FOI #11718 email]
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show quoted sections
From: Andrew Crow
Dear New Zealand Police,
This request is now very late, I ask that you respond promptly.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Crow
New Zealand Police
Disclosure under the Privacy Act Identifying the Requester.pdf
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Disclosure under the OIA Identifying the Requester.pdf
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Crow Andrew IR 01 19 32086 signed reply.pdf
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Dear Andrew Crow
Please find attached the reply to your correspondence of 24 November 2019.
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
PNHQ
===============================================================
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[User 7569 name removed] (Account suspended) left an annotation ()
Hi Andrew,
I'm not sure specifically what request(s) you are referring to, but in browsing a number of requests to Police I have noticed that there are a few individual's using FYI to request personal information, not official information.
As you're possibly already aware, these would need to be considered by Police under the Privacy Act 1993, not the OIA.
It is entirely appropriate under those circumstances for Police to require ID (or find some other way) to ensure they are dealing with the individual whose personal information is being requested.
You should get the response to your questions under the OIA that you deserve, but it is worth remembering that the number of times the ombudsman has been in touch with Police about requiring ID for OIA requests will be unaffected by these cases. Even if the individual's had complained to the Ombudsman, the ombudsman would be referring the complaints to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
It is extremely unlikely that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner would have any issues whatsoever with Police carefully considering the identity of individuals before releasing their personal information to them.
James.
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