Police use of video recording technology in sexual assault complaint cases
Craig Parkes made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was partially successful.
From: Craig Parkes
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am New Zealand citizen, writing as a video production professional doing research into the use of video recording technology in the field of policing. I am specifically writing in regards to video interviews and their record keeping in cases where there are complainants of sexual assault.
I would like to inquire as to the following, which are both relevant to my field as a video production professional and I believe strongly in the public interest for the police to disclose:
1) In 2016 & 2017, How many sexual assault complainants to police in New Zealand (ideally broken down by police station) had video recordings made of their police interviews? ( In line with procedure outlined here http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/... - Page 5, to quote: The interview may be recorded on DVD to allow your actual words to be preserved. If the matter goes to court, your DVD may be given to lawyers.)
2) In 2016 & 2017, How many sexual assault complainants to police in New Zealand (ideally broken down by police station) were interviewed but did not have video recordings made of their police interviews as per the above published procedure?
3) In 2016 & 2017 How many suspects/complainees raised in interviews by sexual assault complainants were interviewed by police and had video recordings made of their police interviews?
4) In 2016 & 2017 How many suspects/complainees raised in interviews by sexual assault complainants were interviewed who did not have video recordings made of their police interviews?
5) As of December 2017 are video recordings of sexual assault complainant interviews still routinely stored on DVD as outlined here: http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/... or are they recorded on some other electronic form (e.g to a .mp4 file) and stored on SD cards or some other form of digital media, other than DVD?
If so can I be provided a list of the formats police record interviews to, how they are then stored and labelled with police files in cases of sexual assault after being recorded, and if they are added to a database in anyway when recorded so their number could be automatically tallied and reported back on (for the ease of the police replying to such requests as this in future)
Yours faithfully,
Craig Parkes
New Zealand Police
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New Zealand Police
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From: Craig Parkes
Dear New Zealand Police,
I am writing requesting an update to an official information act request submitted December 21, 2017, in regards to Police use of video recording technology in sexual assault complaint cases.
Under the Official Information Act I was expecting a response to this enquiry by February 12, 2018. As I have not received any notification requesting an extension of this Official Information Act request under section 15A within the required 20 working days, can you please explain why the New Zealand Police are currently in breach of the Official Information Act in regards to this request, and provide a response or request for extension to my initial request immediately.
Yours faithfully,
Craig Parkes
From: Craig Parkes
Dear New Zealand Police,
On the 21st of December I submitted an official information request to the New Zealand Police via fyi.org.nz.
I received a response that was incorrectly directing me to fill in the form on the Request for Official Information page of the NZ Police website. At the time this happened so quickly I presumed it must have been an automated reply, but have since discovered that this must have been an incorrect response by a staff member.
On February 13th I posted a follow up reply via the fyi.org.nz website - citing that my initial request was overdue and that the NZ Police was thus in breach of the official information act. To this I received no response. Given it is now a month later I have been advised to contact the ombudsman but in the name of expediency I would first try to use the https://forms.police.govt.nz/oiarequest website. However, that site only allows for 1000 characters in the body of the request, which is not space for the body of my OIA request itself. So I am going to post my official information request again here to give the New Zealand Police one last opportunity to comply with their responsibilities under the Official Information Act before going to the Ombudsmen - I hope you can be of assistance.
The official information act request posted originally on the 21st of December which is now long overdue for a response is below:
"I am New Zealand citizen, writing as a video production professional doing research into the use of video recording technology in the field of policing. I am specifically writing in regards to video interviews and their record keeping in cases where there are complainants of sexual assault.
I would like to inquire as to the following, which are both relevant to my field as a video production professional and I believe strongly in the public interest for the police to disclose:
1) In 2016 & 2017, How many sexual assault complainants to police in New Zealand (ideally broken down by police station) had video recordings made of their police interviews? ( In line with procedure outlined here http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/... - Page 5, to quote: The interview may be recorded on DVD to allow your actual words to be preserved. If the matter goes to court, your DVD may be given to lawyers.)
2) In 2016 & 2017, How many sexual assault complainants to police in New Zealand (ideally broken down by police station) were interviewed but did not have video recordings made of their police interviews as per the above published procedure?
3) In 2016 & 2017 How many suspects/complainees raised in interviews by sexual assault complainants were interviewed by police and had video recordings made of their police interviews?
4) In 2016 & 2017 How many suspects/complainees raised in interviews by sexual assault complainants were interviewed who did not have video recordings made of their police interviews?
5) As of December 2017 are video recordings of sexual assault complainant interviews still routinely stored on DVD as outlined here: http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/... or are they recorded on some other electronic form (e.g to a .mp4 file) and stored on SD cards or some other form of digital media, other than DVD?
If so can I be provided a list of the formats police record interviews to, how they are then stored and labelled with police files in cases of sexual assault after being recorded, and if they are added to a database in anyway when recorded so their number could be automatically tallied and reported back on (for the ease of the police replying to such requests as this in future)"
Yours faithfully,
Craig Parkes
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 email has been forwarded to the appropriate department to answer your
query.
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
From: FOXWELL, Holly
New Zealand Police
Good afternoon.
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request for
information on:
1) In 2016 & 2017, How many sexual assault complainants to police in New
Zealand (ideally broken down by police station) had video recordings made
of their police interviews?
2) In 2016 & 2017, How many sexual assault complainants to police in New
Zealand (ideally broken down by police station) were interviewed but did
not have video recordings made of their police interviews as per the above
published procedure?
3) In 2016 & 2017 How many suspects/complainees raised in interviews by
sexual assault complainants were interviewed by police and had video
recordings made of their police interviews?
4) In 2016 & 2017 How many suspects/complainees raised in interviews by
sexual assault complainants were interviewed who did not have video
recordings made of their police interviews?
5) As of December 2017 are video recordings of sexual assault complainant
interviews still routinely stored on DVD as outlined here:
[1] http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/.. . or are they recorded on
some other electronic form (e.g to a .mp4 file) and stored on SD cards or
some other form of digital media, other than DVD?
Your request is being actioned pursuant to the Official Information Act
1982.
Sorry for the delayed response to your information request, the original
date (21 December 2018) that you made the request has been noted on the
file.
Sincerely
Holly Foxwell, Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters / New Zealand Police / Nga Pirihimana O
Aotearoa
180 Molesworth Street, PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140 [2]www.police.govt.nz
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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
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2. http://www.police.govt.nz/
From: KIRBY, David
New Zealand Police
Hi Craig,
Thanks for your request regarding details on video recordings of
complainants and suspects. I have received the request for actioning.
I am finding out whether we electronically store the information you
request in a way that will mean we obtain the figures for you.
I will be surprised if the information is stored on suspect interviews
but I am hopeful to obtain some figures around complainant records.
I would be interested to discuss your request with you to see if I can
find a way I can assist with your research within our recording system.
I will respond once I have further information otherwise feel free to
contact me via e mail or on the below cell phone number.
Regards
Dave
[1]New David Kirby
Zealand Detective Inspector
Police Manager Adult Sexual Assault and Child Protection
Logo
National Criminal Investigation Group
Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street, P.O.Box 3017
WELLINGTON
ph: 021 191 5443 : e mail
[2][email address]
Safer Communities Together
Check out NZ Find NZ
[3]Facebook Police on [5]Facebook Police on
[4]Facebook [6]Twitter
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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
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From: FOXWELL, Holly
New Zealand Police
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Dear Mr Parkes
I have been asked to send this attached response.
Ngā mihi
Holly Foxwell
Ministerial Services Officer
Ministerial Services
E [1][email address]
[2]wordmark transparent
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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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3. https://www.youtube.com/user/policenz
4. http://www.police.govt.nz/facebook
5. http://www.police.govt.nz/twitter
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Oliver Lineham (FYI.org.nz volunteer) left an annotation ()
It looks like a Police employee, rather than handling this as an OIA request as they are required to do, simply directed you to Police's own OIA form. Unfortunately this happens from time to time with Police.
As you are probably aware, you are not required to complete that form. Police are legally required to respond to your OIA request as originally received, in the way you prefer (which, it can be inferred, is via FYI.org.nz).
Most likely they have not even logged the request. As you've had no response to your follow-up after several days, I suggest sending another (and offer to re-send the request in case they have lost it). An Ombudsman complaint is probably not a bad idea either.
Link to this