Calculations in determining harm from cannabis raids
Kyle Sutherland made this Official Information request to Minister of Police
The request was refused by Minister of Police.
From: Kyle Sutherland
Dear Minister of Police,
'Police estimate they have prevented in excess of $500 million of socio-economic harm from reaching the community by destroying the 132,000 cannabis plants.'
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zeal...
Please provide a breakdown of how the figure of $500 million of socio-economic harm was calculated alongside sources for your references.
Yours faithfully,
Kyle Sutherland
From: collins reception
Dear Mr Sutherland
I write to confirm receipt today of your Official Information Act request dated 24 May 2016 requesting:
· A breakdown of how the figure of $500 million of socio-economic harm was calculated alongside sources for your references
The information you have requested is not held by this office, but is likely to be held by the New Zealand Police.
Therefore we are transferring your request under section 14(b)(i) of the Official Information Act 1982 to the New Zealand Police for their consideration.
Kind regards,
Office of Hon Judith Collins
Minister of Police | Minister of Corrections | MP for Papakura
Phone: 04 817 6806 | 4.1 Executive Wing | Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
www.beehive.govt.nz
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From: Kyle Sutherland
Dear collins reception,
I am yet to receive a reply from New Zealand police.
It is nearly a month overdue already, can you please chase this up urgently and investigate why it has taken the police so long to respond.
Yours sincerely,
Kyle Sutherland
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
Dear Mr Sutherland
You have been seeking the answer to your information request of 23 May
2016 in which you requested:
'Police estimate they have prevented in excess of $500 million of
socio-economic harm from reaching the community by destroying the 132,000
cannabis plants.'
[1]https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zeal...
Please provide a breakdown of how the figure of $500 million of
socio-economic harm was calculated alongside sources for your references.
Your request was transferred to Police on 24 May 2016 but it seems that it
was not actioned at that time. This was an oversight and error for which
I apologise. I am also sorry for the resulting delay and any
inconvenience attendant on that. Your request is now being actioned and I
hope that a response will be with you as soon as possible. Please get back
to me directly if you require an update on this request or any other
matter relating to an information request.
Yours sincerely
Teresa McMahon
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
PO Box 3017
Wellington
===============================================================
WARNING
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creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zeal...
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
Dear Mr Sutherland
I have been asked to send you this reply to your information request.
Yours sincerely
T McMahon
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
PO Box 3017
Wellington
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
From: Kyle Sutherland
Dear MCMAHON, Teresa,
Could you please clarify the following with Chris Page:
Does the Ministry believe these harm statistics give a true and fair representation of cannabis harm when the cannabanoid harm figures provided from the Drug Harm Index include synthetic cannabis, which has been determined in numerous studies to be far more harmful than normal cannabis?
Yours sincerely,
Kyle Sutherland
From: Kyle Sutherland
Dear MCMAHON, Teresa,
I am still awaiting a response from the Ministry of Police, can you please ensure this is attending to at the earliest convenience?
Yours sincerely,
Kyle Sutherland
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
Dear Mr Sutherland
Can you please tell me what information you are still awaiting? I cannot see a request from you that is awaiting reply and I do hope we have not missed a request.
Could you please resend, or send me a link to, the information you are still seeking?
Many thanks
Teresa McMahon
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From: Kyle Sutherland
Dear MCMAHON, Teresa,
Here is the clarification from August 18:
Dear MCMAHON, Teresa,
Could you please clarify the following with Chris Page:
Does the Ministry believe these harm statistics give a true and fair representation of cannabis harm when the cannabanoid harm figures provided from the Drug Harm Index include synthetic cannabis, which has been determined in numerous studies to be far more harmful than normal cannabis?
Yours sincerely,
Kyle Sutherland
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
Dear Kyle
Thank you for your message.
Police are considering your enquiry and will provide a further response.
show quoted sections
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
Dear Mr Sutherland
I refer to your request of 18 August 2016 for the following information:
“Does the Ministry believe these harm statistics give a true and fair
representation of cannabis harm when the cannabinoid figures provided from
the Drug Harm Index include synthetic cannabis, which has been determined
in numerous studies to be far more harmful than normal cannabis?”
I apologise for the delay in responding to your request.
Your request is refused under section 18(g) of the official information
Act as the information you have asked for does not exist. It should be
noted that information must be held, i.e. in existence, when it is
requested. There is no obligation under the legislation to create
information in order to respond to a request and the Official Information
Act is not a mechanism that can be used to force agencies to engage in
debate or generate justifications or explanations in relation to a matter
of interest to the requester.
You have the right to complain to the Ombudsman about this decision on
your request.
Yours sincerely
Teresa McMahon
Ministerial Services , Police National Headquarters, 180 Molesworth
Street, Wellington, [1]www.police.govt.nz
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
References
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1. http://www.police.govt.nz/
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