Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street, PO Box 3017,
Wel ington
Phone +64 4 474 9499
06 May 2020
Amy Ferguson
[FYI request #12139 email]
Dear Ms Ferguson
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
I refer to your online request to Police of 2 February 2020, in which you ask for, pursuant
to the Official Information Act 1982:
‘1 - Please provide me with the NZ Police company policy regarding the collection
& retention of CCTV collected with the intent to be used against an individual in a
court of law.
2- Please explain a chain of custody? and/or if this is a requrement in regard to the
collection of photographic images/data of an individual.
3- What company/organizational procedures and/or policies are in place to ensure
the information and privacy of individuals NOT involvced or targeted within an
investigation is respected and not in any breach of any of the 12 privacy pricioples
outlined in the Privacy Act 1993?
4- What efforts are made to ensure the col ecting of only necessary images?’
I can advise that Police do not hold documentation that directly relates to parts 2 and
4 of your request, and it is therefore refused pursuant to Section 18(g) of the Official
Information Act 1982. Police are not required to create documentation for the purpose
of responding to an information request, where this information doesn’t already exist.
You may wish to make a more specific request for information held by Police.
In relation to parts 1 and 3 of your request, please find attached a copy of the Police
Manual Chapter relating to use of CCTV in public places (19 pages).
I also direct you to the Solicitor General’s Guidelines for Using Digital CCTV Evidence
in Law Enforcement, which is available online at:
https:/ www.crownlaw.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Prosecution-Guidelines/digital-cctv-
evidence-guidelines.doc
If you are not satisfied with my response to your request you have the right to complain
to the Office of the Ombudsman and seek an investigation and review of my decision.
2
Yours sincerely
Warren Olsson
Acting Detective Inspector
National Criminal Investigations Group
Police National Headquarters
