This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'NZ Police Directive titled 'Assignment Changes - Theft and Fraud''.

      IR-01-25-19671  
30 July 2025 
M.R.M
[FYI request #31107 email]
Tena koe M.R.M 
Information Requests – Case Assignment 
Thank you for your Official Information Act (OIA) request received by New Zealand Police on the 27 
May 2025 in which you asked for information regarding Case Assignment Changes. I refer to your 
request. 
Please provide me – through the FYI.org.nz website – a copy of the NZ Police Directive sent 
to staff in March 2025 relating to police’s File Management Centre (FMC) titled ‘Assignment 
Changes – Theft and Fraud, and saying the NZ Police would no longer be investigating 
allegations of shoplifting below $500 regardless of inquiry as part of a new nationwide 
directive.  Also, if the following information request is not included in the abovementioned 
directive, please provide me with a copy of the relevant documentation with the nationally 
standardised value thresholds used to assess theft and fraud files (general theft $200, petrol 
drive off $150, shoplifting $500, fraud (payWave, online, scam, etc) $1,000 and all other 
fraud$500 
I enclose an information release (123 pages) in response to your request. Please note some 
documents are duplicated to provide context around email trails. The release is page numbered 001 
to 123 for reference purposes. 
Some information has been withheld in this document pursuant to the following sections of the OIA: 

6(c), release would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law, including the
prevention, investigation, and detection of offences, and the right to a fair trial

9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons.

9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through free and frank
expressions of opinions by or between or to officers and employees of the Police in the
course of their duty.
Police considers the interests requiring protection by withholding the information are not outweighed 
by any public interest in release of the information. 
In addition, the Commissioner had the fol owing unrecorded phone cal s with the Minister. 

26 May 2025 @ 8.32pm discussion included comments re Retail Crime CEO Forum.

28 May 2025 @ 8.34am fol owing up in relation to media on Tuesday afternoon.
The review and associated correspondence which includes case comparison data has not yet been 
finalised. Police is refusing this part of your request pursuant to section 18(d) of the OIA. Once the 
review is completed a copy wil  be made available for release. 
For additional context, I can advise that early case closure (ECC) is not final, and many files are 
reactivated as new information or patterns emerge. Districts continue to retain the discretion to 
investigate based on local context, evidence, and local resources. 


Please note that as part of its commitment to openness and transparency, Police proactively releases 
some information and documents that may be of interest to the public. An anonymised version of this 
response may be publicly released on the New Zealand Police website. 
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. 
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 
freephone 0800 802 602. 
 
Ngā mihi 
 
 
 
  
Rachael Bambery 
Executive Director 
Service, Victims and Resolutions