Tēnā koe,

On Friday, 5th April I made this formal request to the Canterbury DLO office and to Community Inclusion, but have since received a response asking to direct the request elsewhere. I'll note this practice does not comply with the Act and request that my original request date of 5th April is noted and honoured.

On 10th March, a number of known far-right actors stormed Tūranga, Ōtautahi's central library, as they protested a rainbow community event. Rainbow community organisers had coordinated with Police ahead of this event as they were well aware of the risk from these individuals who had previously made tangible threats of harm to rainbow communities. Police sent one officer to this event who then left, at which point the far-right antagonists entered the library. Two officers returned when called.

The following week, Destiny Church protested a drag storytime at the same library. Rainbow community members again coordinated with Police in the lead up, and Police sent 4 officers to support community safety at this event.

On Friday 5th April, Schools Strike for Climate led a sit-in at Christchurch City Council which was well responded by Police. By the end of the day, as Council officers closed, 18 officers were present for approximately 50 young people.

I'm writing to formally request information, in the form of documented processes, risk assessments, or communications about these events, and in particular the decision making and prioritisation that went into deciding to send one, then four officers to rainbow community events under tangible threats from far-right actors compared to sending eighteen to the climate sit-in.

Ngā mihi nui,
Jennifer Shields