Reference: IR-01-22-9306
24 May 2022
Jack Hulls
[FYI request #19021 email]
Tena koe Jack
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 {OIA) request dated 31 March 2022, in
which you asked for information regarding the National Gang List (NGL).
Responses to your questions are set out below.
What is the purpose of the database?
The NGL is comprised of information held by the Gang Intelligence Centre (GIC)
agencies1 about patched or prospect New Zealand Adult Gang (NZAG) members and
does not record gang associates or those who may be affiliated. The NGL was created
for intelligence purposes, not for the purpose of counting gang membership numbers or
to act as a reporting tool.
The information is collected for the purpose of maintaining oversight of the gang
environment, to enhance our understanding of the scale of social harm caused by
gangs, and to support the identification of prevention and intervention opportunities.
What gets a
person added to the database?
Individuals are added to the NGL following a validation process carried out by Police
districts and national intelligence staff. The following factors are taken into
consideration when validating gang membership (patched or prospect) status:
•
Intelligence from operations and search warrants
•
An 'Intelligence noting' identifying an individual wearing a patch
•
Visible evidence of members wearing a patch
•
Certain prominent or significant gang 'patch' tattoos.
1 New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections, Internal Affairs, Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, New Zealand Customs Service, Accident Compensation
Corporation, Ministry of Social Development, Inland Revenue, and Kainga Ora.
Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. www.police.govt.nz