Number of strip searches carried out per year
Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Department of Corrections
The request was successful.
From: Alex Harris
Dear Department of Corrections,
Section 98 of the Corrections Act 2004 empowers prison officers to conduct strip searches under specified conditions. I would like to request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982:
* The number of strip searches carried out last year under s98(3)(a), and the number of those searches which resulted in finding unauthorised item(s).
* The number of strip searches carried out last year under s98(3)(b), and the number of those searches which resulted in finding unauthorised item(s).
I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.
Yours faithfully,
Alex Harris
From: OCE Corrections Info
Department of Corrections
Thank you for your email. A further response will be made at the earliest
possible opportunity. Due to the volume and nature of correspondence
received by the Department, responses can take some time to be finalised.
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From: OCE Corrections Info
Department of Corrections
Good Afternoon
Thank you for your email of 24 April 2012 requesting information about
strip searches carried out last year. Your request will be considered
under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and you will receive a
response by May 23 2012.
Regards
Penny Jones
Ministerial Advisor : Office of the Chief Executive
Department of Corrections
DDI (04) 4603354 : Extn: 68354
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From: JONES, Penny (WELLHO)
Department of Corrections
Good Afternoon
I refer to your email below seeking information about strip searches
carried out over the last financial year.
The Department seeks an extension of time, under section 15A(b) of the
Official Information Act 1982, because further consultation is required
to respond to your request.
The extension is for an additional 15 working days and the due date will
now be 14 June 2012. The Department will, however, endeavour to provide
the response as soon as it is complete.
You have right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate and review the
Department's decision to extend the timeframe for responding to your
request. Contact details for the Ombudsmen's Office are set out below:
Office of the Ombudsmen
PO Box 10152
Wellington
Thank you for your patience.
Regards
Penny Jones : Ministerial Advisor : Office of the Chief Executive
Department of Corrections
DDI (04) 4603354 : Extn: 68354
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From: JONES, Penny (WELLHO)
Department of Corrections
Good Afternoon
I have noted that you have two OIA requests with the Department at
present. Could you please advise a postal address that we can send the
responses to.
Regards
Penny Jones
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From: Alex Harris
Dear JONES, Penny (WELLHO),
As noted in my requests, I would prefer an electronic response. The Ombudsman's practice guidelines note that "subject to certain exceptions, information should be released to the requester in the way preferred by the
requester." It is hard to see how any of these exceptions (impairment of efficient adminstration, contrary to legal duty, prejudice interests in ss 6 - 9 of the Act) apply.
In addition, the purpose of requests through the FYI website is to ensure the responses are _public_,and vaialbel to all with a simple google search. That aim would be compromised by a postal response.
If scanned files are large, then the FYI website has an upload facility; the link will be on the requests page here:
http://fyi.org.nz/request/number_of_stri...
Yours sincerely,
Alex Harris
From: JONES, Penny (WELLHO)
Department of Corrections
Good Afternoon
Thank you for your further email. In order to receive information under
the Official Information Act 1982, you must be able to prove that you
are currently in New Zealand. The easiest
way to prove this is to give a postal address. The other way is to bring
proof of identification to a Corrections' Office. Until I have
received proof that you are requesting this information while in New
Zealand I am unable to proceed with your request.
Regards
Penny Jones : Ministerial Advisor : Office of the Chief Executive
Department of Corrections
DDI (04) 4603354 : Extn: 68354
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Alex Harris left an annotation ()
I've contacted them by email with a phsyical address, and reiterated that I expect an electronic response. If they insist on responding by post, I will lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.
Rowan Crawford left an annotation ()
What they've said here isn't quite accurate. Anyone in New Zealand can make a request, true, but they don't mention that New Zealand citizens and permanent residents can make them regardless of their current location.
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publi...
From: OCE Corrections Info
Department of Corrections
<<Response sent..PDF>>
Good Afternoon
Please find attached a letter from the Department of Corrections.
Regards
Ministerial Services Unit.
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Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
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Joshua Grainger left an annotation ()
Hmm. This actually seems true, and may pose some issues for FYI in the future. I'd note that a body corporate incorporated in NZ has the right to issue a FYI request: maybe it would be useful for FYI form an incorporated society in NZ which requests can be asked on behalf of?
Link to this