Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/5540-transparency-in-terms-of-police-officers-complaints-history on November 04, 2025 23:35

Transparency in terms of police officers' complaints history

Chance Lake made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police

The request was successful.

From: Chance Lake

Dear New Zealand Police,

I am writing to request information on the exact process that takes place after a complaint is made against a police officer. Is there a protocol for how the complaint is processed, and if relevant, any indication as to what happens to said officer (retraining, work suspension, dismissal) depending on the seriousness of the complaint against them?

Yours faithfully,

Chance Lake

Link to this

New Zealand Police

'Do not reply to this message, this email message has been sent from an
un-monitored email address'
 
Thank you for your email.
 
Your request has been forwarded to the relevant department for follow up.
 
Please email us again at [1][New Zealand Police request email] if we can help you
any further.
 
Regards
 
New Zealand Police
 
'Do not reply to this message, this email message has been sent from an
un-monitored email address'
 
 

===============================================================

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

Visible links
1. mailto:[New Zealand Police request email]

Link to this

From: MCMAHON, Teresa
New Zealand Police

Dear Chance Lake

Your requests for information about transparency around complaints against
police officers have been received and are being processed under the
Official Information Act 1982.

 

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

Visible links
1. http://www.police.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: MCMAHON, Teresa
New Zealand Police

Attachment Lake Chance reply.pdf
711K Download View as HTML

Dear Chance

I have been asked to send you the attached reply to your information
request.

 

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

Visible links
1. http://www.police.govt.nz/

Link to this

Brooke Hart left an annotation ()

I'm not sure why this response was delayed until the 18th of April. NZ Police have not acknowledged it as late, but as this request was received by them on the 14th of March 2017 their response to this request was due by law no later than the 11th of April 2017.

Though the OIA does permit them to extend this deadline under certain circumstances, it requires that they also notify you of the reason and the length of the extension prior to the initial deadline.

If you wish, you could complain to the Ombudsman about this breach of the OIA here: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-...

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
New Zealand Police only: