Dear Palmerston North City Council,

Today Stuff reported that the Christchurch City Council was using audio surveillance devices for dog control purposes ("Council puts secret listening device in couple's garden after dog complaint", Stuff, 16 March 2016). I would like to request the following information under the LGOIMA:

* Whether the Palmerston North City council uses video or audio surveillance devices for dog-control purposes;
* if so, a copy of any applicapble policy covering such surveillance. If there is no formal policy, I would like to know the evidential bar required for such surveillance to begin, who approves or can approve it, whether consent is sought from targets or affected property owners, who carries it out and the methods used.
* if video or audio surveillance is used, I would like to know the number of times each has been used in the last year, the number of occasions it was done without consent, and the number of occasions consent was sought but not granted.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about
this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the
fyi.org.nz website.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris