IR-01-22-39394
25 January 2023
Jaeger Sims
[FYI request #21466 email]
Tēnā koe Jaeger
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 request dated 20 December 2022. You
asked:
May I please see the Policy and Procedure regarding "ride-alongs" and other
situations where observations are allowed.
All information relevant to your request is contained within the Police Manual.
The Police Manual contains all good practice guidelines and instructions for the New
Zealand Police. Each chapter provides principles that detail high level expected
outcomes from following the chapter. Where the chapters detail good practice that is
expected to be followed, a different path may be followed if it considers the good practice,
is lawful, has integrity and can be justified to achieve enhanced outcomes.
The chapter relevant to your request is called Management of observers. A copy of the
chapter is included with this response.
Yours sincerely
Superintendent Dave Greig
Director Capability
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
Management of observers
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
2
Policy standards and principles
3
What
3
Why
3
How
3
Overview
4
Introduction
4
Exemptions
4
General cautions
4
Firearms
4
Examples
4
Exemptions
5
Observers in Emergency Communication Centres
5
Wearing Police uniform and insignia
5
Selection and approval
6
Selection process
6
Conditions for approval
7
Revocation of approval for observer
7
Advising a Communications Centre
7
Instructions in respect of approved observers
7
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Management of observers
Policy standards and principles
What
Police for a number of reasons allows pre‐authorised observers to be present in Police stations and vehicles, maritime and air units,
and Emergency Communication Centres.
Why
Observers form an important part of Police’s accountability to the public by enabling members of the media or the general public to
gain a first‐hand, “fly‐on‐the‐wall” view of policing in a variety of settings.
How
Each observer is pre‐approved with controls including health and safety actively practised. Police involved with observers are aware
and mindful of the inherent risks when allowing them to be present in observing day to day or specific operational policing activities.
Risk must be minimised as best as possible and observers must be briefed and made aware to not interfere with the operational
activities being undertaken at that time.
The selection and approval process for confirming individuals to be an observer is outlined below. Depending on the type of observer,
the criteria for approval will differ.
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Management of observers
Overview
Introduction
This chapter details the responsibilities of Police employees in managing volunteers or observers in Police vehicles, maritime and air
units, and Emergency Communication Centres.
Exemptions
This chapter does not apply to the carriage of members of the public in non‐operational situations when associated with a community
charity function. Such carriage is subject to the approval of a district or area commander. See ‘
Police vehicle management’ chapter.
General cautions
Police must always be mindful of the inherent risk in allowing observers in Police vehicles, and that prior approval must be obtained
before carrying non‐Police persons in Police vehicles, maritime and air units.
Observers must take a passive role wherever possible; however, on occasions they may be required to assist Police in their duties.
Firearms
An observer should not be placed at, or enter into, a situation involving firearms or the possibility of firearms. Where constabulary staff
need to wear Hard Armour Plates (HAP) in compliance with the ‘
Police firearms’ policy, then the observer should be excluded from the
incident scene. This includes a situation where routine arming has been authorised.
Refer to the ‘Assessing risk to passengers in Police vehicles’ section in the
‘Police vehicle management’ chapter of the Police Manual for
further guidance.
Who is an ‘observer’?
For the purposes of this chapter, an ‘observer’ is a person with a specific interest in policing who:
‑ meets the criteria
‑ is formally authorised as an observer
‑ has signed a
Wellness and Safety Induction Checklist and understands the risks involved in accompanying Police
‑ accompanies on‐duty Police in Police vehicles, maritime or air units as an observer.
Examples
This table shows examples of observer categories.
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Management of observers
Observer
Description
category
Scope
Applicants to join Police who are required to undertake 40 hours accompanying and observing Police activity and
interaction with the public.
Media
Accredited journalists and film crew personnel accompanying Police for the purpose of filming or observing Police
activities in an operational setting.
General
Members of the public accompanying Police for the purpose of observing Police. For example:
observer
‑ persons thinking about applying to join Police
‑ students completing a study on Police
‑ in exceptional circumstances, family members or friends.
Police
Off‐duty Police employees accompanying specialist Police to obtain on‐the‐job experience.
observers
Note: A Police observer is not subject to the security checking process but they must complete the Wellness and
Safety Induction Checklist and be authorised as noted.
Police observers must be aware of the
‘Off‐duty interventions’ chapter and if issued with BAS/SRBA and
appointments must have these available whilst observing.
Police
Working on a specific activity supporting Police and community ‐ may occasionally accompany Police.
volunteers
Community
Work alongside Police but under the control of their own organisation, e.g. Neighbourhood Support, Community
Group
Patrols, Victim Support, Maori Wardens, Blue Light, DARE, Search and Rescue, and occasionally as an observer.
volunteers
Exemptions
An employee from another agency engaged in a joint operation with Police is not an observer as defined in this chapter.
Observers in Emergency Communication Centres
Only the security check and
Wellness and Safety Induction Checklist (available through the
Safer People Forms page on the Police
Intranet) outlined in this chapter apply to observers in a Emergency Communications Centre. Authority for these observers is obtained
from the relevant centre manager.
Wearing Police uniform and insignia
Civilian or non‐Police observers must
not wear or use any uniform or equipment issued to a Police employee that may portray them as
being a Police constable. This includes any reflective gear displaying the word “Police”.
If an observer for safety reasons requires a Hi‐Visibility Vest, (e.g. at a road crash) a plain vest must be supplied for their use during the
shift.
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Management of observers
Selection and approval
Selection process
Any Police employee can receive a request from a person who wishes to be considered as an observer. This table details the selection
process.
StageDescription
1
The applicant must:
‑ present photo identification and, where appropriate, other formal credentials (i.e. media or student ID)
‑ be briefed on what an observer accompanying Police can likely expect to encounter during a ‘ride‐along’
‑ allow a basic background check through NIA (not required for Police employees).
2
The employee recommends to an approver, whether the applicant should be accepted as an observer.
3
The approver decides whether or not to accept the applicant as an observer. If the applicant is not accepted, the approver
notifies the applicant of the decision and, if requested, the reasons (unless there are valid grounds to withhold that
information).
4
The approver determines and issues any conditions which could include time frames, type of observation role etc.
5
If the applicant is accepted and prior to commencing observing, the approver must:
‑ again explain what an observer accompanying Police can likely expect to encounter during a ‘ride‐along’
‑ obtain the applicants acknowledgement (in writing on a
Wellness and Safety Induction Checklist) of the provisions
relating to safety, conduct, confidentiality and disclaimer
‑ advise the applicant of the next steps (e.g. Police liaison or Police coordinator) such advice should include the need to
wear appropriate clothing
‑ advise the applicant of the conditions of the approval and that the approval may be suspended or withdrawn by Police
at any time without the reason being advised
‑ advise the applicant that the approval is subject to operational commitments which could change at any time
‑ refer the now approved observer to the relevant Police employee for allocation and management
‑ advise the employee responsible for taking the observer of the approval and any conditions.
This table details the approval levels for the different types of observers.
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Management of observers
Observer
Approval by
category
Scope ‐ Realistic Scope liaison officer.
work preview
Media
Where media ask to accompany Police to observe, report or film any activity, the request must be discussed with the
Police Media Centre, Media & Communications, PNHQ, for advice and liaison with districts.
Observer ‐
The Area Commander or delegated approver in the area in which the observer will primarily be based will consider
vehicle or beat requests and subsequent approvals.
Observer ‐
The respective officer in charge of the specialist operations support units will consider all requests and
Maritime
subsequently make a recommendation.
Observers may only be approved by the Inspector OC Marine Rescue Centre (Auckland Maritime) or District
Operations Manager (Wellington Maritime).
Observer ‐ Air
Observers may only be approved by the Inspector Metro Operations Support, Auckland District.
Support
Conditions for approval
Observers may be authorised if:
‑ any public display and/or carriage of an observer does not interfere with normal authorised journeys and operational policing
will always take priority
‑ there is minimal impact on staff and rosters, and the minimum coverage is maintained in the districts
‑ training and preparation time for the display is on‐duty time and must be included in the roster.
Revocation of approval for observer
This table details the process to suspend or revoke an observer approval.
1 If any employee has any concerns about an observer, they must return the observer to the pickup point. Reasons could include
inappropriate behaviour, interference with Police duties, failure to follow instructions or conditions, physical or mental well‐being
concerns etc.
2 The employee must advise their supervisor in writing of the decision and the reason(s) why observer was returned.
3 The supervisor must provide the report to the approver together with any comments on the decision and any recommendation.
Advising a Communications Centre
When initially carrying an observer in an operational situation, the Emergency Communications Dispatcher must be advised that the
unit has an observer (and the type of observer) in the vehicle. This ensures the Emergency Communications Centre can properly assess
any risks before deploying the unit.
Instructions in respect of approved observers
These instructions apply:
‑ SCOPE instructions
‑ Media related observer
instructions
‑ Any relevant Local orders.
Reminder: No observer may be carried without prior approval and a
Wellness and Safety Induction Checklist completed (this must be
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Management of observers
forwarded to local district Health and Safety Advisor for filing).
Note: If an observer is carried on a number of occasions in the same operational setting, a single Wellness and Safety Induction
Checklist is sufficient, i.e. off‐duty constable accompanying a specialist unit as part of a familiarisation process.
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Document Outline
