Dear Office of the Ombudsman,

I acknowledge that the Office of the Ombudsman is not subject to the Official Information Act 1982. However, I kindly request your assistance in providing information regarding the Office’s involvement or oversight concerning issues of police constable identification:

1. Has the Office of the Ombudsman investigated any complaints or cases involving police constables refusing to identify themselves when interacting with members of the public? If so, how many such cases have been reviewed in the past five years?
What were the general findings or outcomes of these investigations?

2. Has the Office provided any guidance, recommendations, or rulings regarding police officer accountability and transparency, particularly concerning their obligation to identify themselves?

3. Are there publicly available reports, case summaries, or advisory documents addressing this issue? If so, I would appreciate access to or copies of these materials.

4. In cases where the Ombudsman identified breaches of accountability or transparency regarding police identification, what remedies were recommended or enforced?

5. Does the Office of the Ombudsman collaborate with the New Zealand Police or other agencies to promote best practices for officer conduct during public interactions?

I make this request as a New Zealand citizen and would appreciate your response being provided through the fyi.org.nz website.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours faithfully,

Lance D. Lavery