Risk assessment processes in lead up to rainbow community events
Jennifer Katherine Shields made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was successful.
From: Jennifer Katherine Shields
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
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Tēnā koe Jennifer,
Police acknowledges receipt of your request for information under the OIA, provided in your email below dated 8 April 2024.
Your reference number is IR-01-24-11738.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 7 May 2024, unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi,
Leo
Ministerial Services - Police National Headquarters
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From: Information Requests
New Zealand Police
Hi Jennifer,
Unfortunately due to a systems error, we’ve had to assign a new IR reference number to your request: IR-01-24-13718.
Please disregard the IR reference number below that has been provided to you previously.
We will endeavour to provide a response to your request as soon as practicable.
Please note, Police are currently managing a large number of information requests, including urgent requests.
Thank you for your patience, Jennifer.
Kind regards,
Moyrah Ali
Information Requests Analyst
Information Requests | Service Group
P 105
E [email address]
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From: Jennifer Katherine Shields
Tēnā koe,
I'm writing to request an update to this request, which is now legally overdue with no extension.
Ngā mihi,
Jen
From: Information Requests
New Zealand Police
Tçnâ koe Jennifer,
Police apologise for the delay in responding to your request. We will endeavour to provide a response to your request as soon as practicable.
Police are currently managing a large number of information requests, including urgent requests.
Regards,
Perry
Information Requests | Service Group
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From: Information Requests
New Zealand Police
Tçnâ koe Jennifer,
A response to your Official Information request was sent to your business
email address.
Regards,
O. Gulyaeva
Information Request Team
Service Delivery
P 105
E [1][email address]
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Mark Hanna left an annotation ()
That seems unusual. Did you have a conversation away from FYI where you and NZ Police agreed that they should communicate their response privately instead of via FYI?
Jennifer Katherine Shields left an annotation ()
Police emailed their response directly to my work address, where this request was initially made, but they responded by replying to an FYI message and forwarding it to me. Very odd. I got one email released that was not substantive, and the rest was withheld.
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
Mark Hanna left an annotation ()
Police are *always* managing a large number of information requests. They receive more requests for official information than any other agency in the country. There is no provision in the OIA that allows for deadlines to be missed because an agency has received a large number of requests, so this behaviour is unequivocally unlawful.
The fact that Police have failed so consistently to meet the OIA's timeliness requirements for many years points to Police leadership having failed (or refused) to provide sufficient internal resources to cope with this workload, despite their legal obligations.
Link to this