Reason(s) for using lights and sirens

T Edwards made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police

The request was partially successful.

From: T Edwards

Dear New Zealand Police

On 27 February 2020, there was a significant traffic jam in the Wellington CBD, that extended to almost Evans Bay, Wellington. At 1750 hours (approx.) an officer, either under instruction or of their own volition, used their emergency lights and sirens. Thus, avoiding the significant delays that this traffic jam caused.

NB - there was another police vehicle two cars behind me that did not respond or engage their emergency lights or sirens. I raise this point as, if this other officer was responding to a situation that required urgency, this officer would have been able to respond sooner.

Location:

It was just after the bend where Evans Bay Parade and Oriental Bay meet (no street address available) that I saw the officer and their car. The officer (I believe) started their emergency response somewhere in Evans Bay.

Details:

The number plate was: JSC569, and the time was 1750 hours.

With the above context, please provide the following information:

1. Please provide all documents, memos, recordings, instructions, job sheets, and communications that were provided to this officer that required them to respond to an event requiring sirens and/or lights.

I note that information yet to be reduced to writing is still official information (recollection of conversations, comms/radio contact etc.)

2. Copies of all guidance, training, policy or operational policy guidance that relates to an officers' use of emergency response lights and/or sirens.

3. What criteria, if any, needs to be met for an officer to respond to an event using their emergency response lights and/or sirens?

Please feel free to include any additional documents (not listed above) that you believe may aid my understanding.

Pursuant to section 19(a)(ii), should the Police decide to refuse any of the requested information, I seek the grounds and the reasons for said refusal.

Yours faithfully,

T Edwards

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New Zealand Police

Good Afternoon
 
Your request has been received by New Zealand Police.
 
It will now be allocated for response.
 
Kind regards
Ministerial Services
PNHQ

-----"T Edwards" <[FOI #12380 email]> wrote:
-----
To: "OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Police"
<[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: "T Edwards" <[FOI #12380 email]>
Date: 04/03/2020 12:24PM
Subject: Official Information request - Reason(s) for using lights and
sirens

Dear New Zealand Police
On 27 February 2020, there was a significant traffic jam in the Wellington
CBD, that extended to almost Evans Bay, Wellington. At 1750 hours
(approx.) an officer, either under instruction or of their own volition,
used their emergency lights and sirens. Thus, avoiding the significant
delays that this traffic jam caused.
NB - there was another police vehicle two cars behind me that did not
respond or engage their emergency lights or sirens. I raise this point as,
if this other officer was responding to a situation that required urgency,
this officer would have been able to respond sooner.
Location:
It was just after the bend where Evans Bay Parade and Oriental Bay meet
(no street address available) that I saw the officer and their car. The
officer (I believe) started their emergency response somewhere in Evans
Bay.
Details:
The number plate was: JSC569, and the time was 1750 hours.
With the above context, please provide the following information:
1.  Please provide all documents, memos, recordings, instructions, job
sheets, and communications that were provided to this officer that
required them to respond to an event requiring sirens and/or lights.
I note that information yet to be reduced to writing is still official
information (recollection of conversations, comms/radio contact etc.)
2. Copies of all guidance, training, policy or operational policy guidance
that relates to an officers' use of emergency response lights and/or
sirens.
3. What criteria, if any, needs to be met for an officer to respond to an
event using their emergency response lights and/or sirens?
Please feel free to include any additional documents (not listed above)
that you believe may aid my understanding.
Pursuant to section 19(a)(ii), should the Police decide to refuse any of
the requested information, I seek the grounds and the reasons for said
refusal.
Yours faithfully,
T Edwards
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New Zealand Police

Goodafternoon 

Dueto p oliceneeding to redeploy staff in the face of unprecedented
circumstances as we respond to Covid-19. This will have a severe impact on
our ability to respond to requests for information under the Official
Information Act 1982 and Privacy Act 1993 in a timely fashion.

Weare unable to action you request with in the 20 working days but are
working on getting your request acted as soon as we are able to.    

Kind regards

 

RCFD71

                             

Official Information Requests

WELLINGTON DISTRICT

Level 5, 39 Victoria Street, Wellington

Mail to: c/- Level 5,

39 Victoria Street |PO Box 693         

Wellington 6011|DX: SX11220              

DDI: 04 381 2000

[1][email address]          

             

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Note: The ISU is currently based at Wellington and the hours of
operation are between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.  If you need to speak
with Police about your case, please have your case file number ready.

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New Zealand Police


Attachment Final release.pdf
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Dear  T Edwards

 

Request for Information

 

I refer to your correspondence dated 04/03/2020 in which you requested:

* Please see full request attached for full context.

On 27 February 2020, there was a significant traffic jam in the
Wellington CBD, that extended to almost Evans Bay, Wellington. At 1750
hours (approx.) an officer, either under instruction or of their own
volition, used their emergency lights and sirens. Thus, avoiding the
significant delays that this traffic jam caused.

1. Please provide all documents, memos, recordings, instructions, job
sheets, and communications that were provided to this officer that
required them to respond to an event requiring sirens and/or lights.

2. Copies of all guidance, training, policy or operational policy
guidance that relates to an officers' use of emergency response lights
and/or sirens.

3. What criteria, if any, needs to be met for an officer to respond to
an event using their emergency response lights and/or sirens?

In regards to your first point the unit that used there emergency lights
and sirens was a dog unit  that is why the other patrol vehicles did not
activate their lights the dog unit was dispatched out  to the Hutt, which
is why the other Wellington Patrol car did not response.

 

I have considered your request in accordance with the Official Information
Act 1982.  I enclose a copy of the information requested.  

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.

Kind Regards

 

RCFD71

                             

Official Information Requests

WELLINGTON DISTRICT

Level 5, 39 Victoria Street, Wellington

Mail to: c/- Level 5,

39 Victoria Street |PO Box 693         

Wellington 6011|DX: SX11220              

DDI: 04 381 2000

[1][email address]          

             

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Note: The ISU is currently based at Wellington and the hours of
operation are between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.  If you need to speak
with Police about your case, please have your case file number ready.

show quoted sections

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