Dear Ministry of Justice,

I would like to make the following request for information.

Given that it is Government policy to introduce a Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which if implemented may improve public confidence in the criminal justice system, have Ministry officials identified any benefits that might emanate from introduction of a CCRC? If so, what possible benefits have been identified by officials including any information about possible benefits that is held in the minds of officals?

Please provide me with the Ministry’s briefing to the new Government, including any information or advice supplied to the new Government about the wider criminal justice system. Please also provide all correspondence between the new Justice Minister and officials about any matters pertaining to the wider criminal justice system.

In an email Jeff Orr sent to Kevin Kelly on 8 May 2009, Mr Orr advised that he had asked the High Court about the destruction of videotaped interviews pertaining to the Peter Ellis case. Please provide me with all records of communication between the High Court and the Justice Ministry about the destruction of these videotaped interviews.

In Mr Orr’s response to me dated 19 October 2017, I was advised that when a Commission of Inquiry into the Ellis case was being considered in 2009, the Ministry learnt that the Christchurch High Court apparently held copies of the complainants’ videotaped interviews. Since 2009, has the Justice Ministry made any inquiries of the Christchurch High Court about the existence of these videotaped interviews? If so, please provide me with all records relating to this question.

Yours faithfully,

Ross Francis