Retail Crime Investigations Halve Amidst Controversial Police Directive
Police directive on Shoplifting Investigations Sparks Controversy and Review
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New Zealand Police implemented a directive that significantly altered the inquiry of lower-value crimes, including shoplifting, by setting monetary thresholds for case assignments. This move, revealed through documents obtained by RNZ, has led to a public outcry and an ongoing review by the police force.
Secret Memo reveals Thresholds for Investigations
Superintendent Blair MacDonald sent an email on March 26th, outlining the new thresholds that would be in place for investigating crimes. Subsequent documents, including an email from April 7th, detailed the impact of these changes on the number of files being assigned for investigation.
An analysis of the data showed a marked decrease in investigations across several police districts. Wellington experienced the most significant change,with the average number of daily investigations dropping from 60 to 30. This data was compared to a 47-day baseline period before the thresholds where introduced.
other districts also saw substantial reductions:
Auckland City: 26 per cent decrease
Counties manukau: 21 per cent decrease
Eastern: 38 per cent decrease
Central: 42 per cent decrease
* Canterbury: 13 per cent decrease
Waikato was the only district to report an increase, a 2.7 per cent rise attributed by a police staffer to files being reassigned and appearing twice.
“Unable to Investigate Further”: the Victim Impact
The Official Data Act (OIA) request also uncovered a template email designed to inform victims whose reported crimes did not meet the new investigation thresholds. The email expressed regret, stating, “at this time, Police is unable to investigate further.”
It further explained that while the police aim to resolve all matters to victims’ satisfaction, “there are occasions where we cannot.” The statement emphasized that investigations are prioritized based on factors such as legal timeframes and the likelihood of a successful conviction.
Acknowledging the potential for frustration and upset, particularly for victims who had provided leads, the template concluded with a promise to review cases if the ability to resolve them changed.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell commented on the situation, stating he was “pleased that the Police Commissioner moved quickly to clarify Police’s position, initiate a review of relevant cases, and reassure the retail sector and the public that Police will continue to enforce the law with thier usual discretion.”
Review Underway to Reassess Impacted Cases
In response to the controversy, Police launched a review to determine the number of retail crime cases that were filed while the directive was active. A police spokesperson confirmed that the national value threshold for prioritizing lower-level theft and fraud offenses was being removed.
“A review is being completed on any cases that may have been impacted by those thresholds to assess whether they should be assigned to districts for follow-up,” the spokesperson stated. This review is being conducted by the police’s data quality team.
The spokesperson reassured the public that “cases will continue to be managed locally balancing demand, resources and priorities to ensure the best possible service to victims in those communities.”
Rachael Bambery, Executive Director Service, Victims, resolutions, clarified that not all case closures were solely due to the monetary thresholds. Some closures may have resulted from a lack of actionable information or evidence.She confirmed that the review is focused on identifying and pursuing any outstanding lines of inquiry for cases previously closed based on the monetary threshold.