How often are people released after being arrested due to evidential insufficentcy?

Joshua Grainger made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police

New Zealand Police did not have the information requested.

From: Joshua Grainger

Dear New Zealand Police,

Under the Police's pre-charge warnings policy it is said that if a Custody Supervisor determines that there is not enough evidence to bring a charge against a person arrested then that person must be released immediately without charge. This policy also states that where this occurs it must be documented thoroughly and an entry entered into the NIA.

I wish to request under the Official Information Act:

* how many times over the last three years have people been released without charge due to insufficient evidence?

If possible I would like to request this data broken down by:
* the charge that the person was initially arrested for
* policing district

Please feel free to let me know if you wish me to clarify my request at all.

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Grainger

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New Zealand Police

Dear Mr Grainger.

Thank you for your OIA received by email. Your request will be submitted
for response.

Kind regards,

PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM
NZ POLICE

-----Joshua Grainger <[OIA #2144 email]>
wrote: -----

To: OIA requests at New Zealand Police <[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: Joshua Grainger <[OIA #2144 email]>
Date: 30/10/2014 04:15PM
Subject: Official Information Act request - How often are people
released after being arrested due to evidential insufficentcy?

Dear New Zealand Police,

Under the Police's pre-charge warnings policy it is said that if a
Custody Supervisor determines that there is not enough evidence to bring
a charge against a person arrested then that person must be released
immediately without charge. This policy also states that where this
occurs it must be documented thoroughly and an entry entered into the
NIA.

I wish to request under the Official Information Act:

* how many times over the last three years have people been released
without charge due to insufficient evidence?

If possible I would like to request this data broken down by:
* the charge that the person was initially arrested for
* policing district

Please feel free to let me know if you wish me to clarify my request at
all.

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Grainger

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New Zealand Police

Dear Joshua Grainger

 

I am writing in response to your request under the Official Information
Act (OIA) 1982, emailed on 30 October 2014, for information relating to
the number of people released after being arrested due to insufficient
evidence.

 

Police does not produce statistics on arrests. Therefore, your request is
refused under section 18(g) of the OIA, as the information is not held.

 

I regret that on this occasion it has not been possible to provide the
information you have requested. If you have any questions please let me
know.

 

Also, you have the right under section 28(3) of the OIA to seek a review
of my handling of your request by the Office of the Ombudsmen.

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

Gavin Knight

Manager: Statistics

Police National Headquarters

===============================================================

WARNING

The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.

Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately

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