1 October 2021
IR-01-21-29084
Sebastian
Email: [FYI request #16912 email]
Dear Sebastian
Request for information
Thank you for your request dated 28 September 2021 referencing a document
published by the DPMC website in March 2021.
You quoted the below extract from the document.
“Police is also undertaking an internal awareness programme to assist
frontline to recognise symbology and imagery associated with XRW
ideologies.”
You requested:
“copies of all materials produced by police for this awareness programme,
including all training and operational materials, frontline intelligence
reports etc.”
Your request has been considered in accordance with the Of icial Information Act
1982 (OIA) and I have provided the following response.
In January 2021 Police published a short video introducing symbology. Its aim
was to enable police employees to recognise and explore unfamiliar symbols and
to apply context to them when considering their relevance to any ideology.
This was supported by a PDF document which provided examples of symbols
known to be associated with various ideologies both internationally and
domestically. Much of this information was obtained from publicly available online
websites.
Police believes that disclosing the video and supporting documentation, as a
collection of symbols and imagery made by Police to inform staff, would allow
people to modify their use of them or other behaviours in order avoid detection or
assessment by security agencies. Police does not consider it in the public interest
to disclose the collection of documents because this information could be
adopted by or otherwise encourage some people to adopt the violent extremist
beliefs underpinning the symbols and imagery.
Therefore further details regarding the content of these resources are withheld
under section 6(c) of the OIA as the making available of this information is likely
to prejudice the maintenance of the law including the prevention, investigation
and detection of offences and the right to a fair trial.
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington SX11149
Telephone: (04) 474 9499. www.police.govt.nz
If you are not satisfied with my response to your request, you have the right to
ask the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of my decision.
Yours sincerely,
F. de Bes
Fleur de Bes
Inspector
New Zealand Police
Document Outline
