18 October 2017
Mr Malcom Lock
[FYI request #6566 email]
Dear Mr Lock
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION I refer to your emails dated 18 September 2017 and 18 October 2017 in which
you requested –
I would like to make a correction to my original official information act request.
I stated that the suppressor was returned to the owner, as I have been
advised this is incorrect and the suppressor is also missing. I do apologize for
this mis-information in the original request.
During a domestic incident in northern rural Hawke's Bay with in the last 12
months the Hawke's Bay policing team seized several firearms from a
property. Amongst these firearms were two Gervarm semiautomatic .22 rifles.
No charges were laid against anyone from the property or involved in the
incident but police continued to retain the firearms for an extended period.
Once a well know firearms lawyer was engaged, most of the firearms were
returned to the lawful owner. All except one, a Gervarm semiautomatic .22
rifle. This rifle was seized with a suppressor attached. The suppressor that
was attached was returned to the owner.
Questions
1. Has the Gervarm firearm been located? if so where was it located
2. Why was it not in the same location as the other seized firearms from the
same incident and not returned at the
same time?
3. If it has not been located yet, what actions are in place to determine its
location and why it was removed and by whom?
4. Why was the suppressor removed and consequently returned to the owner
without the firearm?
I have considered your request in accordance with the Official Information Act
1982. For your information, Eastern District Police concluded an investigation
into the matter you refer to in your request, which pertains to the affairs of
other people. Therefore the requested information listed in question one to
four has been declined pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, section:
9(2(a) Protect the privacy of other people
If you are not satisfied with my response to your request you have the right to
complain to the Office of the Ombudsmen and seek an investigation and
review of my decision.
Regards
Deb Collins
Hawkes Bay Official Information Requests | New Zealand Police
P +64 6 831 0700 | E reque[email address]
Hastings Police Station | 205 Railway Road | DX MX 10043 |
PO Box 49 | Hastings 4156
