Dear Mark,
I am writing in response to the email you submitted 31 January 2020. Your request has been considered pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982. Specifically you requested:
1. The number of planned and unplanned Police operations undertaken at gang premises or known gang properties since 1 July 2019; and 2. The number of firearms seized by Police during these operations since 1 July 2019 to 31 January 2020; and 3. The number of road side Police stops since 1 July 2019 to 31 January 2020 on gang owned / related vehicles; and 4. The number of firearms seized by Police since 1 July 2019 to 31 January 2020 during these road side stops. To answer your questions:
1. Police does not house a central database where this information is recorded and
readily available. Each operation is coordinated and run out of the individual Districts around the country. In order to fulfil this request for information, it would necessitate going through and analysing every operation undertaken in every District to determine if they involved a gang address.
Therefore, I am refusing your request pursuant to s 18(f) of the Official Information Act 1982 as the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
2. 263 firearms were reported in Gun Safe as being seized between 1 July 2019
and 31 January 2020 when the primary offender/subject had a connection to a gang.
3. This part of your request has been refused pursuant to s 18(f) of the Official
Information Act 1982 as the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
4. 42 firearms were reported in Gun Safe as being seized as a result of 35 events
classified as vehicle stops (3T) or pursuits of vehicles between 1 July 2019 and 31 January 2020 when the primary offender/subject had a connection to a gang.
I trust you are satisfied with my response to your request. If not, you have a right under section 28(3) of the Official Information Act 1982 to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of my decision.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Sissons National Manager: Response & Operations
